Geology Concepts and Fossil Analysis

Miss Van Hook introduces how to interpret rock strata to determine the relative ages of rock layers and fossils. The video explains how fossils provide clues about past organisms and environments, and discusses sedimentary rocks and the principle of superposition. It covers dating techniques, including absolute and relative dating, and explains the geologic column and index fossils. The video also addresses disturbances in rock layers, such as faults and intrusions, and how they affect the geologic column.

What can fossils trapped in amber tell us about the organism?

• The color of the organism

• The size and possible behavior of the organism

• The exact age of the organism

• The future evolution of the organism

How do sedimentary rocks form over time?

• Through the melting of glaciers

• By the cooling of magma

• By the accumulation and compression of sediments

• Through volcanic eruptions

What is the principle of superposition?

• Older rocks lie above younger rocks

• All rocks are the same age

• Rocks form in random order

• Younger rocks lie above older rocks

What is absolute dating?

• Estimating the age of rocks based on their color

• Determining the relative age of rocks

• Comparing rock layers to fossils

• Finding the exact age of rocks using radioactive decay

What are rock strata?

• Layers of metamorphic rocks

• Layers of sedimentary rocks

• Layers of volcanic ash

• Layers of igneous rocks

What is the geologic column?

• A timeline of Earth's future

• A list of all known fossils

• A chart of all volcanic eruptions

• The order of rock layers from oldest to youngest

What are index fossils?

• Fossils found only in one location

• Fossils of species that lived for a short period and are found worldwide

• Fossils that are always found with dinosaur bones

• Fossils that are used to predict future species

Why are many index fossils aquatic organisms?

• Because they are larger than land organisms

• Because they are the oldest organisms

• Because they are easier to find

• Because they lived in undisturbed environments like oceans

What is an unconformity in geology?

• A continuous sequence of rock layers

• A missing part of the geologic column

• A type of rock formation

• A type of fossil

What is a fault in geological terms?

• A volcanic eruption

• A type of fossil

• A break in the Earth's crust where layers shift

• A type of rock