Geologic Time Analyzing the Rock and Fossil Record

You are a geologist and come across a layer of marine fossils buried beneath a layer of plant fossils only found on land. What does that tell you about the past climate in that area?

• It was once a marine habitat that experienced a mass extinction and changed the climate from marine to dry land.

• It was once a forest and is now a prairie after a mass extinction.

• There is not enough evidence to make any theories.

• It is not possible for marine fossils to be located below plant fossils only found on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which principle states that sediments spread out flat, in all directions, until they either thin out or run into a barrier.

• Principle of Superposition

• Principle of original horizontality

• Principle of original lateral continuity

A scientist stated that rock layer C is the oldest and rock layer A is the youngest. Based on the scientist's conclusion, what can you infer about the geologic history of the rock layers?

• The fault line indicates the rock layers experienced an earthquake

• The rock layers did not experience any geologic disturbance because the layers are all horizontal

• C cannot be the oldest rock layer

• There is a younger intrusion

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The principle of __________________states that, in an undisturbed sequence, the oldest rocks are at the bottom of the sequence and successive layers are younger than those below them.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Determining the order of events and the relative age of rocks by examining the position of rocks in a sequence is called ____.

• absolute age dating

• radiometric dating

• relative age dating

• radiocarbon dating

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The principle of superposition can be used to determine.

• the actual age of these rock layers

• the relative densities of these rock layers

• the actual temperatures of these rock layers

• the relative age of these rock layers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The diagram shows a rock profile containing layers of different types of rock and igneous intrusions. Which sequence lists the correct order of events in the area represented in the diagram?

• Igneous intrusion Y formed.

  The shale layer was deposited.

  Igneous intrusion X formed.

  The limestone layer was deposited.

  The mudstone layer was deposited.

• The mudstone layer was deposited.

  The limestone layer was deposited.

  The shale layer was deposited.

  Igneous intrusion Y cut into the mudstone, limestone, and shale.

  Igneous intrusion X cut into the mudstone, limestone, and shale.

• Igneous intrusion X formed.

  Igneous intrusion Y formed.

  The shale layer was deposited.

  The limestone layer was deposited.

  The mudstone layer was deposited.

• The layer of mudstone was deposited.

  The layer of limestone was deposited.

  Igneous intrusion Y cut into the mudstone and limestone.

  The shale layer was deposited.

  Igneous intrusion X cut into the mudstone, limestone, and shale.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Simple fossils are found in older and younger rock layers while complex fossils are not found in the oldest layers. This shows

• Life started out as simple organisms and evolved to include more complex organisms over time.

• Life started out with complex organisms. This is shown in the rock layers.

• There are no fossils in the older layers, deep in the Earth's crust.

• Nobody knows why complex fossils aren't in the rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The oldest rock layer in an undisturbed rock sequence occurs ____.

• at the bottom of the sequence

• below the sedimentary rock layer

• below the unconformity

• at the top of the sequence

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The remains of living plants or animals are called fossils.

• true

• false

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1