Fossils (1/29)

Question 1

Leonardo da Vinci (objections to Diluvialism)

Answer 1

1. ) Some shells were too fragile to have travelled such great distances
2. ) Some fossils in strata appeared to be in living positions and resembled living communities.
3. ) Multiple layers of fossil-rich strata separated by unfossiliferous strata (multiple depositional events)

Question 2

Steno’s 3 Basic Principles of Stratigraphy

Answer 2

1. ) Law of Superposition
2. ) Principle of Original Horizontality
3. ) Principle of Original Lateral Continuity

Question 3

Law of Superposition

Answer 3

Strata is arranged with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top.

Question 4

Principle of Original Horizontality

Answer 4

Strata originally deposited horizontally or nearly so; departures indicate strata have moved after their formation

Question 5

Principle of Original Lateral Continuity

Answer 5

Strata originally deposited continuously unless interrupted by gaps in the same strata indicate rocks have been removed after they’ve formed

Question 6

Robert Hooke

Answer 6

• Argued for the organic origin of fossils
• Suggested that fossils were remains of extinct organisms and that species have a “limited life span”
• Postulated that fossils could be used to correlate strata (biostratigraphy!)

Question 7

William “Strata” Smith

Answer 7

Coined the term “faunal succession”

Created the first geological map when he was commissioned to build canals in England

Question 8

Faunal Succession

Answer 8

Based on the observation that sedimentary rock strata contains fossilized flora/fauna and that these fossils succeed each other vertically in a specific, reliable order that can be identified over wide horizontal distances

Question 9

3 Properties of an “Index Fossil”

Answer 9

1. ) Easy to identify (distinct shapes)
2. ) Geographically and environmentally widespread
3. ) Short stratigraphic range (i.e. exist for only brief amount of time)

Question 10

Biostratigraphy

Answer 10

the use of fossils and how fossils resemble change between sedimentary layers to date rocks