Question 1

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact.Which of the following statements concerning their relative age is geologically correct ?
A)The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions.
B)The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism.
C)The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite.
D)They were both formed at 4004 B.C.E.but the Devil made them complicated to fool us.

Accepted Answer

If the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite, it must be younger than the granite itself. This is because the pebbles were eroded off of the granite and then incorporated into the younger sandstone. If there are no pebbles in the sandstone, then it is not possible to determine their relative age based on this observation alone. Option A is incorrect because the presence of sandstone inclusions in the granite does not necessarily mean the sandstone is younger. Option B is also incorrect because contact metamorphism can occur between rocks of the same age. Option D is not a scientifically valid option.

Question 2

Working on fossiliferous strata in the mountains of western Italy, ________ was first to work out ________, which is the fundamental way geologists know which bed is older in any sedimentary sequence.
A)James Hutton, the principle of uniformitarianism
B)Charles Lyell, the sequence of orogenies
C)William Smith, the principle of fossil succession
D)Nicolaus Steno, the law of superposition

Accepted Answer

Nicolaus Steno formulated the law of superposition, which states that in any sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom, providing a method to determine the relative ages of the strata.

Question 3

Which of the following denotes the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?
A)strata typing
B)cross-cutting
C)radioactive intuition
D)correlation

Accepted Answer

Correlation is the process of identifying and matching sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas. This is typically done by examining the unique characteristics of the rocks, such as their composition, thickness, and fossil content, and comparing them to the same characteristics in other areas. Strata typing is not a commonly used term in geology, cross-cutting refers to the process of identifying geological features that cut across other rocks, and radioactive intuition is not a recognized term in geology.

Question 4

The study of paleontology focuses on ________?
A)fossils and evidence concerning ancient life forms
B)sedimentary rocks and their diagenetic transformations after deposition
C)absolute age determinations on minerals from igneous and metamorphic rocks
D)palinspastic restorations of deformed strata that were once horizontal

Accepted Answer

Paleontology is the study of fossils and evidence concerning ancient life forms. Sedimentary rocks, absolute age determinations, and palinspastic restorations may be used in paleontology as tools, but they are not the focus of the discipline.

Question 5

Visualize (or draw)five, horizontal, sedimentary strata as exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers, 1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest.Which of the following statements concerning the strata are true?
A)bed 5 is the oldest
B)beds 1 and 3 are older than bed 4
C)bed 4 is older than bed 2
D)bed 3 is older than beds 2 and 4

Accepted Answer

In sedimentary strata, the principle of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top. Therefore, beds 1 and 3 are older than bed 4.

Question 6

Pieces of one rock contained within another are called ________ and give evidence that that smaller rock is ________ the main body.
A)coprolites, rejects from
B)inclusions, older than
C)surprises, more valuable than
D)xenoliths, younger than

Accepted Answer

Inclusions are pieces of one rock contained within another and are generally older than the host rock.

Question 7

Which of the following means to recognize, identify, and describe similar-aged strata or similar lithologies in nearby areas or in widely separated, different areas?
A)coagulation
B)correlation
C)strata-titling
D)fossicking

Accepted Answer

Correlation refers to the process of recognizing, identifying, and describing similar-aged strata or similar lithologies in nearby areas or in widely separated, different areas. Coagulation refers to the process of particles clumping together, strata-titling is not a recognized term in geology, and fossicking refers to the act of searching for fossils or minerals.

Question 8

What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?
A)law of original correlation
B)theory of correlative supposition
C)law of superposition
D)theory of superstition

Accepted Answer

The law of superposition states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it. The other options (A, B, D) are not valid concepts in geology.

Question 9

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?
A)Charles Edward Stuart, 17th century
B)William Smith, 18th century
C)George Dawson, 19th century
D)Nicolaus Steno, 17th century

Accepted Answer

Nicolaus Steno made the first clear statement of the law of superposition in the 17th century.

Question 10

What geologic law/principle states that fossil organisms (fauna)changed and evolved in a definite, progressive way such that strata of specific ages can be recognized by the fossils they contain?
A)fossil exhibitionism
B)fossil superposition
C)fossil succession
D)fossil transubstantiation

Accepted Answer

The principle of fossil succession states that fossil organisms evolved in a definite, progressive way and are therefore useful for correlating and dating rock formations. This principle is based on the observation that different groups of fossils appear in a definite order in the geological record, with younger fossils always found in higher strata.

Question 11

The task of matching geologic formations of the same age over vast distances (like between continents)is termed ________.
A)correlation
B)cross dressing
C)lithification
D)stratification

Accepted Answer

The process of matching geologic formations of the same age over vast distances is called correlation. This is an essential process in geology to understand the temporal and spatial relationships of rock formations, which provides valuable information about the Earth's history and evolution. Cross-dressing is not a relevant term in geology, and lithification and stratification refer to different geological processes that are not directly related to the task of correlation.

Question 12

An unconformity is ________.
A)an erosional (or non-depositional)surface with younger strata above and older rocks below
B)the lower contact of an intrusive sill with sedimentary strata
C)a fault with younger, sedimentary rocks above and older, igneous rocks below
D)the contact between a cross-cutting pluton and sedimentary rocks

Accepted Answer

An unconformity is an erosional or non-depositional surface with younger strata above and older rocks below. It represents a gap in the geologic record where deposition was halted, followed by erosion or non-deposition, and then renewed deposition. The other choices describe different types of contacts or boundaries between rock units, but not unconformities.

Question 13

Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?
A)inclusions of sandstone in a granite pluton
B)a well-exposed dyke of basalt intruding a sandstone
C)the feldspar and quartz contents of a granite
D)an nonconformity between a granite and sandstone

Accepted Answer

The feldspar and quartz contents of a granite may give information about the composition of the rock, but it is not necessarily relevant to determining the sequence of geologic events in an area. The other options all involve relationships between different rocks and can provide insight into the order in which they formed.

Question 14

Which rocks are most useful in unraveling Earth's geologic history?
A)phaneritic igneous rocks
B)high grade metamorphic rocks
C)fossiliferous sedimentary rocks
D)meteorites

Accepted Answer

Fossiliferous sedimentary rocks contain a record of ancient life and can be used to date layers of rock and determine the environment in which they formed. They are the best tool for reconstructing Earth's geologic history.

Option A, phaneritic igneous rocks, are coarse-grained igneous rocks that form from slow cooling and crystallization of magma. While they can provide information about the composition of the original magma, they do not contain information about the history of the Earth.

Option B, high grade metamorphic rocks, can provide information about the temperatures and pressures experienced by the rocks during metamorphism. However, they usually do not contain fossils and may not provide a detailed history of Earth's geologic past.

Option D, meteorites, can provide information about the early solar system but are not typically used to unravel Earth's geologic history.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true, concerning sedimentary strata separated by a disconformity?
A)The younger strata were tilted after the older strata were.
B)All strata exhibit parallel bedding or stratification, but there is a hiatus (missing record).
C)The older strata were tilted when the younger strata were deposited.
D)All of the older strata were eroded away before the younger strata were tilted.

Accepted Answer

A disconformity is a type of unconformity where there is a gap in the geological record between two sedimentary strata that are parallel to each other. This means that the younger strata were deposited on top of the older strata, but there is a missing section of time in between. There may not have been any deposition or there may have been erosion that removed the older strata. In the case of a disconformity, the strata exhibit parallel bedding or stratification, but there is a hiatus or missing record. The other options do not accurately describe a disconformity.

Question 16

The ________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can uniquely determine geologic ages of strata.
A)principle of cross correlation
B)law of fossil regression
C)law of correlative indexing
D)principle of fossil succession

Accepted Answer

The principle of fossil succession states that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can uniquely determine geologic ages of strata. The other answer choices are not valid principles or laws related to fossil dating.

Question 17

An unconformity is a buried ________.
A)fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below
B)surface of erosion or non-deposition separating younger strata above from older strata below
C)fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below
D)surface of erosion with older strata above and younger strata below

Accepted Answer

An unconformity is a surface of erosion or non-deposition that separates younger strata above from older strata below. This can occur due to a variety of geological processes including uplift, erosion, and sea level changes. The unconformity represents a gap in the geological record and often indicates a significant change in the environment or tectonic activity.

Question 18

________ is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.
A)An angular deformity
B)An angular unconformity
C)A disconformity
D)A cross-cutting fault

Accepted Answer

An angular unconformity is a type of unconformity where tilted, older strata are in contact with horizontal, younger strata. This type of unconformity typically indicates a period of deformation and erosion followed by a period of deposition.

Question 19

Which English engineer and amateur geologist (his first name was William)is generally credited with first demonstrating the principle of faunal succession from his observations in building canals?
A)Tell
B)Smith
C)Wordsworth
D)Blake

Accepted Answer

William Smith, also known as "Strata Smith," is credited with first demonstrating the principle of faunal succession through his observations in building canals. He noticed that certain types of fossils always occurred in the same relative positions in the rock layers, and that different rock layers could be identified by their unique fossil content.

Question 20

Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?
A)Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity.
B)Horizontal lava flows lie below the unconformity and horizontal, sedimentary strata lie above.
C)The discordant boundary between older strata and an intrusive body of granite.
D)Igneous dykes cutting through sills at an angle.

Accepted Answer

An angular unconformity is characterized by tilted strata lying below the unconformity, while the bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity. This indicates that there was a period of deformation or uplift that caused the older strata to be tilted and eroded away before the deposition of the younger, parallel strata.

Quiz 8: Geologic Time

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact.Which of the following statements concerning their relative age is geologically correct ?

Working on fossiliferous strata in the mountains of western Italy, was first to work out , which is the fundamental way geologists know which bed is older in any sedimentary sequence.

Which of the following denotes the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?

The study of paleontology focuses on ________?

Visualize (or draw) five, horizontal, sedimentary strata as exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers, 1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest.Which of the following statements concerning the strata are true?

Pieces of one rock contained within another are called and give evidence that that smaller rock is the main body.

Which of the following means to recognize, identify, and describe similar-aged strata or similar lithologies in nearby areas or in widely separated, different areas?

What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

What geologic law/principle states that fossil organisms (fauna) changed and evolved in a definite, progressive way such that strata of specific ages can be recognized by the fossils they contain?

The task of matching geologic formations of the same age over vast distances (like between continents) is termed ________.

An unconformity is ________.

Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?

Which rocks are most useful in unraveling Earth's geologic history?

Which of the following statements is true, concerning sedimentary strata separated by a disconformity?

The ________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can uniquely determine geologic ages of strata.

An unconformity is a buried ________.

________ is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.

Which English engineer and amateur geologist (his first name was William) is generally credited with first demonstrating the principle of faunal succession from his observations in building canals?

Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?