Question 1

If horizontal sedimentary strata overlie tilted strata (and no fault is present),the surface between the horizontal and tilted strata must be a(n)____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  conformable sedimentary contact 
B)  angular unconformity 
C)  disconformity 
D)  nonconformity 
A)  conformable sedimentary contact 
B)  angular unconformity 
C)  disconformity 
D)  nonconformity B

Question 2

The age of Earth CANNOT be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses because ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  sedimentation rates are not likely to remain constant at any one locality over all of Earth's history 
B)  sedimentary rocks can be metamorphosed or melted 
C)  locally, much of Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves 
D)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  sedimentation rates are not likely to remain constant at any one locality over all of Earth's history 
B)  sedimentary rocks can be metamorphosed or melted 
C)  locally, much of Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves 
D)  All of the above are correct. D

Question 3

Which method of correlation is more reliable for determining age equivalence among bodies of rock that are physically isolated by vast distances?

Accepted Answer

A)  lithologic correlation 
B)  fossil correlation 
A)  lithologic correlation 
B)  fossil correlation B

Question 4

In the 1800s Lord Kelvin estimated the age of the Earth,utilizing a number of assumptions.Which wrong assumption was the primary reason why his estimate (approximately 20 million years)was so wildly inaccurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  that the Earth was once hotter than it presently is today 
B)  that the Earth may have been molten when first formed 
C)  that no new heat has been added to the Earth since its initial formation 
D)  that the Earth would lose heat over time through radiation into outer space 
A)  that the Earth was once hotter than it presently is today 
B)  that the Earth may have been molten when first formed 
C)  that no new heat has been added to the Earth since its initial formation 
D)  that the Earth would lose heat over time through radiation into outer space

Question 5

The principle of ____________ explains the occurrence of older rock within an igneous body.

Accepted Answer

A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions 
A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions

Question 6

If no single location records all of Earth's history,how was the geologic column created?

Accepted Answer

A)  by interpolating the rest of the column from the largest column that could be found 
B)  by ignoring universal gaps in time 
C)  by using only the information from the largest column found 
D)  by globally correlating small columns and filling in the gaps 
A)  by interpolating the rest of the column from the largest column that could be found 
B)  by ignoring universal gaps in time 
C)  by using only the information from the largest column found 
D)  by globally correlating small columns and filling in the gaps

Question 7

Contact #1 is an example of a(n)____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  conformable sedimentary contact 
B)  fault 
C)  baked contact 
D)  unconformity 
A)  conformable sedimentary contact 
B)  fault 
C)  baked contact 
D)  unconformity

Question 8

In an unweathered sample of detrital sedimentary rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the grains formed,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  None of the above are correct. 
A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  None of the above are correct.

Question 9

If the relative age of two formations (with respect to one another)is known,then the numerical ages for each formation can be inferred.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n)____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  disconformity 
B)  angular unconformity 
C)  nonconformity 
A)  disconformity 
B)  angular unconformity 
C)  nonconformity

Question 11

Which of the following is the most correct reason why no single location on Earth contains a complete record of Earth history?

Accepted Answer

A)  because of unconformities 
B)  because of erosion 
C)  because of times of nondeposition 
D)  because deposition is constantly occurring 
A)  because of unconformities 
B)  because of erosion 
C)  because of times of nondeposition 
D)  because deposition is constantly occurring

Question 12

Why can't geologists isotopically date a clastic sedimentary rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  They do not contain the appropriate minerals. 
B)  These types of rocks do not contain enough of the appropriate minerals to date. 
C)  The minerals would yield the date of when they crystallized in a metamorphic or igneous rock. 
D)  The minerals would yield the date of when they weathered from their source material. 
A)  They do not contain the appropriate minerals. 
B)  These types of rocks do not contain enough of the appropriate minerals to date. 
C)  The minerals would yield the date of when they crystallized in a metamorphic or igneous rock. 
D)  The minerals would yield the date of when they weathered from their source material.

Question 13

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ____________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Accepted Answer

A)  fossil content and spatial relationships among igneous rocks 
B)  fossil content and spatial relationships among sedimentary rocks 
C)  radiometric dating of igneous rocks 
D)  radiometric dating of sedimentary rocks 
A)  fossil content and spatial relationships among igneous rocks 
B)  fossil content and spatial relationships among sedimentary rocks 
C)  radiometric dating of igneous rocks 
D)  radiometric dating of sedimentary rocks

Question 14

Which of the following geologic principles is a direct result of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions 
A)  baked contacts 
B)  cross-cutting relationships 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  inclusions

Question 15

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  None of the above are correct. 
A)  200 million years 
B)  400 million years 
C)  750 million years 
D)  None of the above are correct.

Question 16

The marble rind surrounding the granite pluton must be younger than the limestone according to the principle of ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  superposition 
B)  baked contacts 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  original continuity 
A)  superposition 
B)  baked contacts 
C)  original horizontality 
D)  original continuity

Question 17

If the numerical ages of two formations are known,then the relative age of each with respect to one another can be inferred.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that are ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks 
B)  too young (postdate sedimentary deposition) 
C)  too old (predate sedimentary deposition) 
A)  just as accurate as when the technique is applied to igneous rocks 
B)  too young (postdate sedimentary deposition) 
C)  too old (predate sedimentary deposition)

Question 19

In the area immediately surrounding an igneous intrusion,a host limestone is locally metamorphosed to produce marble.Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The intrusive igneous rock must be older than the limestone. 
B)  The limestone must be older than the marble. 
C)  The marble must be older than the intrusive rock. 
D)  The relative ages of the three units cannot be determined with the information given. 
A)  The intrusive igneous rock must be older than the limestone. 
B)  The limestone must be older than the marble. 
C)  The marble must be older than the intrusive rock. 
D)  The relative ages of the three units cannot be determined with the information given.

Question 20

Which statement about contact #3 is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  It and contact #2 once formed a continuous unconformity. 
B)  It was once elevated farther above contact #2, but faulting has brought them closer together. 
C)  It presents an example of an angular unconformity. 
D)  It must be younger than the conglomerate, due to the principle of baked contacts. 
A)  It and contact #2 once formed a continuous unconformity. 
B)  It was once elevated farther above contact #2, but faulting has brought them closer together. 
C)  It presents an example of an angular unconformity. 
D)  It must be younger than the conglomerate, due to the principle of baked contacts.

Exam 10: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

If horizontal sedimentary strata overlie tilted strata (and no fault is present),the surface between the horizontal and tilted strata must be a(n)____________.

The age of Earth CANNOT be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses because ____________.

Which method of correlation is more reliable for determining age equivalence among bodies of rock that are physically isolated by vast distances?

In the 1800s Lord Kelvin estimated the age of the Earth,utilizing a number of assumptions.Which wrong assumption was the primary reason why his estimate (approximately 20 million years)was so wildly inaccurate?

The principle of ____________ explains the occurrence of older rock within an igneous body.

If no single location records all of Earth's history,how was the geologic column created?

Contact #1 is an example of a(n)____________.

In an unweathered sample of detrital sedimentary rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the grains formed,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

If the relative age of two formations (with respect to one another)is known,then the numerical ages for each formation can be inferred.

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n)____________.

Which of the following is the most correct reason why no single location on Earth contains a complete record of Earth history?

Why can't geologists isotopically date a clastic sedimentary rock?

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ____________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Which of the following geologic principles is a direct result of gravity?

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

The marble rind surrounding the granite pluton must be younger than the limestone according to the principle of ____________.

If the numerical ages of two formations are known,then the relative age of each with respect to one another can be inferred.

Radiometric dates applied to sedimentary rocks produce ages that are ____________.

In the area immediately surrounding an igneous intrusion,a host limestone is locally metamorphosed to produce marble.Which of the following statements is correct?

Which statement about contact #3 is correct?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags, cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Rock Groups

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

The Rock Cycle

The Earths Interior Revisited: Insights From Geophysics

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

An Introduction to Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

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