Exam 8: Geologic Time

A lava flow includes fragments of limestone in it. Which rock unit is older, the lava flow or the limestone? ________

Alpha emission, beta emission, and electron capture are three different kinds of radioactive decay.

Which of the following geologic observations would NOT bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?

Compare the doctrine of catastrophism with the doctrine of uniformitarianism.

How would you figure out if rock unit A or rock unit D formed first, or if they coincided?

Examine the geologic timescale shown here. Which is the longest-lasting period of geologic time? Which is the shortest period? Why should these periods differ so much in their durations?

The further back in geologic time we go, the more detail we can discern about conditions on the ancient Earth.

Is rock unit D likely to be sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous?

Examine the geologic timescale shown here. Which is the earliest period listed in the Mesozoic?

Is rock unit F likely to be sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous?