Unit 1 Poss. Test Questions

Question 1

How is Earth History or Historical Geology different from Physical Geology?

Answer 1

Historical Geology is more concerned about the history of Earth and the history of life (biota) on Earth.

Question 2

The earliest simple use of stone by man creatures began more than ______ years ago.

Answer 2

The earliest discovered simple use of stone by man creatures began more than 2 million years ago.

Question 3

How did Greek Herodotus (500 BC) describe fossils?

Answer 3

Herodotus (500 BC) recognized fossils as forms of ancient life.

Question 4

How did Aristotle (350 BC) derive explanations to the natural world? (Did he believe in scientific experiments?)

Answer 4

Aristotle (350 BC) used simple observations and logic (but no experiments).

Question 5

How did Pliny the Elder describe what we now know as fossil shark teeth?

Answer 5

The Roman - Pliny the Elder (50 A.D.) - attributed fossil shark teeth as “tongue stones” that fell to Earth during lunar eclipses.

Question 6

What were some misinterpretations of fossils used by Middle Age Europe?

Answer 6

For most of Middle Age Europe (500-1500 AD), there were numerous interpretations to explain the fossils that were found in the rocks:

• Works of the devil
• Early failed experiment of the Creator
• Victims of Noah’s flood
• Creatures that grew in the rock from “seeds” within the rocks

Question 7

What interpretations did Leonardo de Vinci make of fossils, in regards to a world-wide flood and why was that a problem for him?

Answer 7

Leonardo de Vinci (1510) made several correct interpretations of fossils.

• He recognized that fossil assemblages resembled living marine communities.
• He proposed that fossils were remains of once-living creatures.
• He noted interbedded fossiliferous and unfossiliferous layers of rocks, and inferred it was unlikely that all of these fossils were formed by one worldwide flood.

Question 8

What do we call the thousand year period in which almost no scientific advancements were made?

Answer 8

The fall of the Roman Empire issued in the Dark Ages (500 AD - 1500 AD) in which there would be almost no scientific advances.

Question 9

Is it illegal to sell fake fossils?

Answer 9

It is not illegal to sell fake fossils.

Question 10

Who is considered to be the Father of Mining and Mineralogy?

Answer 10

Georgius Agricola (1553) is considered to be the Father of Mining and Mineralogy.

Question 11

Geologic knowlege increased dramatically from 1650 to the 1800s because of ______.

Answer 11

Geologic knowledge began increasing dramatically from 1650 to the 1800s because:

• More people became world travelers and observers
• Mining of minerals for the industrial age would became a science; here knowledge of geological factors is critical.
• People began collecting minerals and especially fossils as a serious hobby.

Question 12

Distinguish between stratum, strata and bedding planes, especially with a drawing.

Answer 12

Stratum refers to a single layer of sediment or rock.
Strata is two or more layers of sediments or rocks.
Bedding plane is contact between two beds or stratum.

Question 13

Give a simple definition of stratigraphy.

Answer 13

Stratigraphy is the study of strata.

Question 14

Strata can be used to interpret - what?

Answer 14

Strata can be used to interpret the record of environmental changes on the Earth’s surface.

Question 15

There are two types of rocks that may contain fossils - which are they?

Answer 15

The only strata that usually contain fossils are that of sedimentary rocks and volcanic ash.

Question 16

Why are stratigraphic sediments important to the field of geology?

Answer 16

Stratigraphic sediments tell the relative age and the environments that formed them.

Question 17

Learn the “drawing symbols” for limestone, sandstone, shale, granite, metamorphic rocks, unconformity and baked zone (separate handout)

Answer 17

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Question 18

What honor is given to Nicolas Steno (1636-1686)?

Answer 18

Nicolas Steno is considered to be the father of stratigraphy.

Question 19

Define the Principle of Superposition.

Answer 19

The Principle of Superposition states that if undisturbed, the oldest layer of rock (stratum) will be at the bottom of the sequence and the youngest layer of rock (stratum) will be at the top of the sequence.

Question 20

Define the Principle of Original Horizontality.

Answer 20

The Principle of Original Horizontality states that because of gravity, sediments will be deposited in essentially horizontal layer or strata. If these strata or beds are not horizontal, the layers must have been later tilted.

Question 21

Define the Principle of Lateral Continuity.

Answer 21

The Principle of Lateral Continuity states that a layer of sediment will extend laterally in all directions, until the bed thins out or terminates against the edge of a basin.

Question 22

Abraham Werner taught “Neptunism” that advocates that all rocks came from _____ which satisfied all Biblical accounts.

Answer 22

Abraham Werner taught “Neptunism” that advocates that all rocks came from a universal ocean - good for a world-wide flood.

Question 23

How long have we been using the words geology and geologist?

Answer 23

The word “geology” was first used by Jean-Andre Deluc in the year 1778.

Question 24

What honor is given to James Hutton (1790s)?

Answer 24

James Hutton is considered as the Father of Modern Geology.

Question 25

Define uniformitarianism which is a critical geological concept.

Answer 25

Uniformitarianism states the present is a key to the past; present day geologic processes are the same processes that have operated over vast amounts of time.

Question 26

Do the rates and intensity of geologic changes have to be constant over time?

Answer 26

The rates of geologic changes and intensity of geologic changes do not have to be constant throughout time.

Question 27

Why was the Doctrine of Catastrophism so important to many people?

Answer 27

The Doctrine of Catastrophism states the Earth was shaped by a series of giant disasters that involved forces of tremendous violence, surpassing anything experience in nature. Noah’s Flood easily fit into this theory.

Question 28

Define a stratigraphic hiatus (How is it different than an unconformity?)Remember that a hiatus is “missing strata and missing time” and an unconformity is a surface that represents ______ or _______ or both.

Answer 28

• An unconformity is a surface or bedding plane representing erosion of rocks or non-deposition of rocks or both processes.
• A hiatus is an interval of geologic time that is not represented by strata.

Question 29

Define Disconformity.

Answer 29

Disconformity is when erosion creates a surface somewhat parallel to the existing sedimentary beds.

Question 30

Define Nonconformity.

Answer 30

Nonconformity is when erosion creates a surface that is cut into igneous or metamorphic rocks.

Question 31

Define Angular Unconformity.

Answer 31

Angular Unconformity is when erosion creates a surface that cuts across folded or tilted strata.

Question 32

Define the Principle of Deformation.

Answer 32

The Principle of Deformation states that folds and tilted beds indicate deformation that postdates (after) deposition.

Question 33

Define the Principle of Cross Cutting Relationships.

Answer 33

The Principle of Cross Cutting Relationships states that a rock feature that cuts across through a host rock is younger than the host rock it cuts.

Question 34

Define the Principle of Inclusions.

Answer 34

The Principle of Inclusions states that igneous or sedimentary rocks that contain inclusions of other rocks must be younger than the rocks they include.

Question 35

Define the Principle of Baked Contacts.

Answer 35

The Principle of Baked Contacts states that intruding or flowing igneous rock often “bakes or alters” the rock surrounding it.

Question 36

Who is considered the Father of Vertebrate Paleontology?

Answer 36

Baron Georges Cuvier (1796) is considered the Father of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Question 37

What was the contribution by William Smith to geology (fossils and maps)?

Answer 37

William Smith [Strata Smith] (1815) reasoned that older fossils are found in the lower beds and that fossils in the upper beds would be younger. He also made one of the first accurate geologic maps.

Question 38

Explain the relationship between biota and the Principle of Fossil Succession (i.e. -how do geologists use this principle?)

Answer 38

The Principle of Fossil Succession states that fossil assemblages succeed one another through time in a regular and predictable order because:

• Biota has become more complex through time.
• Fossil assemblages fossil biota are recognizably different over time.
• The relative ages of fossil assemblages can be determined over time.

Strata with the same fossil assemblages are the same relative age (this is common used by geologists).

Question 39

What type of a time indicator are fossils?

Answer 39

Fossils are “relative time” indicators.

Question 40

What was Charles Lyell’s contribution to geology?

Answer 40

Charles Lyell published the first geologic textbook: Principles of Geology in 1830. Lyell is also called the Father of Historical Geology.