Geology Exam # 3 Questions And Correct
Answers
What does uniformitarianism mean?
We can interpret the processes that formed ancient rock by examining the processes that form similar
rock today.
In this illustration, which is a correct interpretation of relative ages?
The granite pluton is older than the fault, which is older than the dike.
Which of the following is the MOST PRECISE estimate of when the folding occurred?
Before the granite pluton intruded, and after intrusion of the sill
The principle of lateral continuity says that:
sedimentary layers began as continuous expanses of sediment
The principle of fossil succession states that
every fossil species spans only a limited range of rock layers, corresponding to the time period over
which it lived
The boundary surface between two stratigraphic formations is called a
contact
Which of the following lists the three Phanerozoic eras in order from oldest to youngest?
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
Which of the following is a method used to determine numeral age?
counting tree rings
Identify the true statement.
Choose one
:A. Dating a mineral within a metamorphic rock gives the age when the rock cooled below the closure
temperatures of that mineral.
B. Dating a sand grain in a sandstone gives the age of the sandstone's formation.
C. Radiometric dating can be used only if some uranium is present in a rock.
D. All of the possible answers are correct.
A. Dating a mineral within a metamorphic rock gives the age when the rock cooled below the closure
temperatures of that mineral
In the image below, what is the best estimate for the age of the fossils?
between 80 and 125 Ma
If you equate all of the Earth's history to one calendar year, the history of our species (Homo sapiens)
would occupy
the last hour before midnight on New Year's Eve
, Geologists base their estimate that the Earth is 4.56 billion years old on
isotopic dating of meteorites thought to be from primitive solids of the early Solar System
The image shows an outcrop of granite and basalt with a pink area between them that records
contact metamorphism. Use the concepts of inclusions and baked contacts to select which of the
following statements best describes the relative age relationship between the granite and basalt.
The granite is older than the basalt.
Which of the illustration represents a disconformity?
Illustration B
Put the names from the geologic column in order from oldest at the bottom to youngest at the top.
Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian
How many half-lives have passed if a rock contains 25% parent isotopes and 75% daughter isotopes?
2
If the parent isotope has a half-life that equals 1.75 million years, how old is the rock?
1.75 Ma
Which of the following sets of properties allow this volcanic rock to float on water?
high porosity, low permeability
Which of the following statements is true about lakes?
A. The presence of a lake indicates a lack of groundwater in a region.
B. A lake is surface water; it is not associated with groundwater.
C. The bottom of a lake bed represents the groundwater table in the region.
D. The surface of a lake corresponds to the surface of the groundwater table nearby.
D. The surface of a lake corresponds to the surface of the groundwater table nearby.
Place these events in chronological order based on causality.
-Groundwater is rapidly removed from a system.
-The level of the water table drops.
-Pore collapse takes place.
-Subsidence occurs over a broad region.
1-Groundwater is rapidly removed from a system.
2-The level of the water table drops.
3-Pore collapse takes place.
4-Subsidence occurs over a broad region.
The flow of water from an above-ground storage tank to a faucet in your house is most analogous to
which of the following systems?
flowing artesian well
Which of the following statements accurately describe what is happening in the subsurface?
Answers
What does uniformitarianism mean?
We can interpret the processes that formed ancient rock by examining the processes that form similar
rock today.
In this illustration, which is a correct interpretation of relative ages?
The granite pluton is older than the fault, which is older than the dike.
Which of the following is the MOST PRECISE estimate of when the folding occurred?
Before the granite pluton intruded, and after intrusion of the sill
The principle of lateral continuity says that:
sedimentary layers began as continuous expanses of sediment
The principle of fossil succession states that
every fossil species spans only a limited range of rock layers, corresponding to the time period over
which it lived
The boundary surface between two stratigraphic formations is called a
contact
Which of the following lists the three Phanerozoic eras in order from oldest to youngest?
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
Which of the following is a method used to determine numeral age?
counting tree rings
Identify the true statement.
Choose one
:A. Dating a mineral within a metamorphic rock gives the age when the rock cooled below the closure
temperatures of that mineral.
B. Dating a sand grain in a sandstone gives the age of the sandstone's formation.
C. Radiometric dating can be used only if some uranium is present in a rock.
D. All of the possible answers are correct.
A. Dating a mineral within a metamorphic rock gives the age when the rock cooled below the closure
temperatures of that mineral
In the image below, what is the best estimate for the age of the fossils?
between 80 and 125 Ma
If you equate all of the Earth's history to one calendar year, the history of our species (Homo sapiens)
would occupy
the last hour before midnight on New Year's Eve
, Geologists base their estimate that the Earth is 4.56 billion years old on
isotopic dating of meteorites thought to be from primitive solids of the early Solar System
The image shows an outcrop of granite and basalt with a pink area between them that records
contact metamorphism. Use the concepts of inclusions and baked contacts to select which of the
following statements best describes the relative age relationship between the granite and basalt.
The granite is older than the basalt.
Which of the illustration represents a disconformity?
Illustration B
Put the names from the geologic column in order from oldest at the bottom to youngest at the top.
Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian
How many half-lives have passed if a rock contains 25% parent isotopes and 75% daughter isotopes?
2
If the parent isotope has a half-life that equals 1.75 million years, how old is the rock?
1.75 Ma
Which of the following sets of properties allow this volcanic rock to float on water?
high porosity, low permeability
Which of the following statements is true about lakes?
A. The presence of a lake indicates a lack of groundwater in a region.
B. A lake is surface water; it is not associated with groundwater.
C. The bottom of a lake bed represents the groundwater table in the region.
D. The surface of a lake corresponds to the surface of the groundwater table nearby.
D. The surface of a lake corresponds to the surface of the groundwater table nearby.
Place these events in chronological order based on causality.
-Groundwater is rapidly removed from a system.
-The level of the water table drops.
-Pore collapse takes place.
-Subsidence occurs over a broad region.
1-Groundwater is rapidly removed from a system.
2-The level of the water table drops.
3-Pore collapse takes place.
4-Subsidence occurs over a broad region.
The flow of water from an above-ground storage tank to a faucet in your house is most analogous to
which of the following systems?
flowing artesian well
Which of the following statements accurately describe what is happening in the subsurface?
