Question 1

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  disconformity.
B)  angular unconformity.
C)  nonconformity.
D)  marker bed.E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 2

The geologic column

Accepted Answer

A)  is a composite stratigraphic column that symbolizes the history of life on Earth.
B)  is a composite stratigraphic column that symbolizes the entirety of Earth history.
C)  can be seen in its entirety in Ethiopia, where the earliest hominid fossils are found.
D)  is exposed in its entirety in the Grand Canyon.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 3

Concerning the relative ages of the limestone and sandstone,

Accepted Answer

A)  the limestone must be older, according to the principle of superposition.
B)  the sandstone must be older, according to the principle of superposition.
C)  the limestone must be older, according to the principle of inclusions.
D)  their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given.E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 4

It is known that Rock A is older than rock B but younger than rock C. It would then be accurate to say that rock __________ is the oldest, followed by rock __________, with rock __________ being the youngest.

Accepted Answer

A)  A; C; B
B)  C; B; A
C)  C; A; B
D)  B; A; CE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

Which of the following is always the same for different isotopes of a single element?

Accepted Answer

A)  atomic number
B)  atomic mass
C)  tendency to decay radioactively
D)  half-lifeE) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

Stratigraphic correlation is conducted by matching __________ and __________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  geologic contacts; rock types
B)  fossils; unconformities
C)  lithologic layers; fossils
D)  marker beds; erasE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

Several geologic principles are used to determine __________ ages.

Accepted Answer

A)  relative
B)  numerical
C)  absolute
D)  isotopicE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 8

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that

Accepted Answer

A)  are just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks.
B)  are too young (postdate sedimentary deposition) .
C)  are too old (predate sedimentary deposition) .
D)  represent the time the sediments became lithified.E) B) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 9

Describe the plausible geologic history of the rocks in the diagram below.

Accepted Answer

The sediments that make up the sandstone...

Question 10

In the following image of the Grand Canyon, identify the nonconformity. Vishnu

Accepted Answer

A)  A
B)  B
C)  C
D)  DE) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 11

In the following image, contact #3 is both a __________ and a(n)  __________ at various points.

Accepted Answer

A)  conformable contact; unconformity
B)  fault; unconformity
C)  nonconformity; angular unconformity
D)  disconformity; nonconformityE) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 12

A layer of shale that contains a distinctive fossil could be used as a

Accepted Answer

A)  geologic contact.
B)  marker bed.
C)  stratigraphic sequence
D)  depositional contact.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 13

If a basalt body cuts across a fault, what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships.
B)  The basalt must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships.
C)  The basalt must be older, according to the principle of original horizontality.
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined from the information given.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 14

Buried erosional surfaces between parallel sedimentary strata are termed

Accepted Answer

A)  disconformities.
B)  angular unconformities.
C)  nonconformities.
D)  marker beds.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 15

A geologist in South Dakota finds an assemblage of dinosaur bones in an outcrop for the Hilltown Formation, and his colleague in China discovers an assemblage of bones from a different dinosaur in the Liaoning Formation. What can be said about the two formations?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are no younger than Cretaceous in age.
B)  They are no older than Jurassic.
C)  They are the exact same age.
D)  They are no younger than Triassic in age.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

Based on the following figure, what is the age of layer 7 relative to layer 3?

Accepted Answer

A)  Layer 7 is younger than layer 3.
B)  Layer 7 is older than layer 3.
C)  Layer 7 and layer 3 are the same rock type, so they are the same age.
D)  Their relative ages cannot be determined.E) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 17

In the 1800s, Lord Kelvin estimated the age of Earth, utilizing a number of assumptions. Which wrong assumption was the primary reason why his estimate (approximately 20 million years)  was so wildly inaccurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth was once hotter than it presently is today.
B)  Earth may have been molten when first formed.
C)  No new heat has been added to Earth since its initial formation.
D)  Earth would lose heat over time through radiation into outer space.E) C) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Accepted Answer

A)  The future is the key to the present.
B)  The present is the key to the past.
C)  The past is the key to the present.
D)  The present is the key to the future.E) A) and B)
F) A) and D)

Question 19

According to the following image, after one half-life has passed, what is the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  16:0
B)  8:8
C)  4:12
D)  2:16E) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 20

The __________ represents the global strata from the entire Earth's history.

Accepted Answer

A)  stratigraphic formation
B)  lithologic sequence
C)  geologic column
D)  stratigraphic columnE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Exam 9: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

In the following image of the Grand Canyon, identify the nonconformity. Vishnu

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on the following figure, what is the age of layer 7 relative to layer 3?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Stratigraphic correlation is conducted by matching __________ and __________ .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Buried erosional surfaces between parallel sedimentary strata are termed

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The geologic column

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It is known that Rock A is older than rock B but younger than rock C. It would then be accurate to say that rock __________ is the oldest, followed by rock __________, with rock __________ being the youngest.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A layer of shale that contains a distinctive fossil could be used as a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The __________ represents the global strata from the entire Earth's history.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the following image, contact #3 is both a __________ and a(n) __________ at various points.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Concerning the relative ages of the limestone and sandstone,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is always the same for different isotopes of a single element?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the 1800s, Lord Kelvin estimated the age of Earth, utilizing a number of assumptions. Which wrong assumption was the primary reason why his estimate (approximately 20 million years) was so wildly inaccurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a basalt body cuts across a fault, what are the relative ages of the basalt and the fault?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A geologist in South Dakota finds an assemblage of dinosaur bones in an outcrop for the Hilltown Formation, and his colleague in China discovers an assemblage of bones from a different dinosaur in the Liaoning Formation. What can be said about the two formations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the plausible geologic history of the rocks in the diagram below.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe sediments that make up the sandstone...View AnswerShow Answer

Several geologic principles are used to determine __________ ages.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the following image, after one half-life has passed, what is the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Stratigraphic correlation is conducted by matching and .

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It is known that Rock A is older than rock B but younger than rock C. It would then be accurate to say that rock is the oldest, followed by rock , with rock __ being the youngest.

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In the following image, contact #3 is both a and a(n) at various points.

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The sediments that make up the sandstone...
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