GLY 1102 Topic 1 – Geologic Time and Geologic Principles
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The basic rock unit defined on the basis of distinctive and easily recognized characteristics is a _______.
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formation
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The principle which states that \"disturbed rocks or strata are older than those that cut or disturb them\" is the principle of ________.
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cross-cutting relationships
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The ______ is the product of placing rocks in their proper sequence of formation to create a composite record of geologic events.
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relative geologic time scale
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A horizon between rocks or sediments with distinctly different ages is called a ________.
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hiatus
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Which of the following is not a type of unconformity?
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superconformity
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Radiometric age dating techniques were used to establish the relative geologic time scale.
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false
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An isotope is a species of the same element with the same mass and different atomic number.
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false
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The principle which states that \"in layered rocks (or strata) the oldest rocks are at the bottom and the younger layers are on top\" is the principle of _______.
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superposition
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______ refers to the number of protons of an atom.
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atomic number
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In a succession of strata, fossil species succeed one another in a definite and recognizable order.
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true
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The short half-life of carbon-14 limits the use of this technique to generally dating materials less than _______ years old.
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50,000 - 60,000
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Disturbed rocks or strata are ______ those rocks that disturb or cut through them.
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older than
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Particles that settle under the influence of gravity settle to more nearly vertical layers.
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false
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In a succession of strata, fossil species succeed one another in a definite and recognizable order. This order of appearances and disappearances is largely the consequence of _______.
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all of these (organic evolution, the extinction of other species, and the appearance of new species)
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The principle which states that \"strata extend in all directions until they thin against edges of the basins they accumulated in\" is the principle of _______.
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original lateral continuity
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The original continuity of strata in a basin can be broken. A river can carve a canyon into a basin leaving once continuous layers stranded on opposite sides of the canyon. According to the principle of lateral continuity, these opposite sides of the valley were once laterally continuous.
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true
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This type of unconformity separates horizontal sedimentary rocks above and below the unconformity.
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disconformity
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Radiometric age dating, the basis of the establishment of the absolute geologic time scale, was not possible until after the discovery of radioactivity in the 20th century.
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false
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Based upon physical characteristics alone (not fossil characteristics), which type of hiatus would be most difficult to identify?
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disconformity
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Radioactive decay is the spontaneous nuclear disintegration of isotopes at ________ rates.
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constant
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_______ is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
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atomic mass
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Which of the following is the oldest?
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lower creatceous
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History is a sequence of events placed in proper chronological order.
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true
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Which of the following is not a geologic period in the Mesozoic Era?
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cambrian
