Rock Stars (Rocks & Minerals)
This is what we use to identify a mineral based on how shiny it is
Lustre
Earthquakes are measured using this scale
Richter Scale
This type of fossil forms when minerals replace the original remains of an organism.
Petrified
The term we use to describe the layers of sedimentary rock is
Strata
The freezing and thawing of water, called frost wedging, is what type of weathering
Mechanical
Mineral's are found in this layer of the Earth
The crust
A volcano that forms in the middle of a tectonic plate is called
Hotspot volcano
This type of fossil forms when an organism is buried and its remains slowly decay, leaving a hollow impression
Mold Fossil
This is the name of the era we are currently in
Shale is formed from fine grains of mud or clay. What type of rock is it?
Sedimentary
Rock that forms when lava cools on the Earth's surface is called
extrusive rock
(Igneous)
Mountains that look like shingles are this type of mountain
Fault
Scientists find fossils of the same species in two continents separated by an ocean. What could this evidence suggest about Earth's past?
The continents may once have been connected, allowing organisms to live across both areas
This dating method uses the predictable decay (half-life) of radioactive elements to determine the age of rocks and minerals
radiometric dating
These are the building blocks of minerals; they are naturally occuring, have straight edges, flat sides, and regular angles
Crystals
The process where tiny pieces of rock, soil, shells, and other natural materials settle out of water or air and pile up in layers
Sedimentation
This technology is used to research the ocean floor
SONAR
This is what we call the fossils we use to determine the age of a layer of rock
Index fossil
This type of fossil fuel is often formed from plants that grow on land
Coal
This large mass causes striations on bedrock as it wears down
Glaciers
A student discovers a rock containing visible layers and fossils. Explain how this rock likely formed and why fossils are rarely found in igneous rock.
It is likely sedimentary rock, formed as sediments accumulated, were compacted, and cemented together. The heat involved in forming igneous rock would usually destroy fossils.
A community is located near a convergent plate boundary where one plate is being forced beneath another. Predict two geological hazards the community might experience and explain why.
Earthquakes can occur due to friction and movement along the plates, and volcanic eruptions can occur as the subducting plate contributes to melting that produces magma.
Scientists discover marine fossils on top of a mountain. Explain what this evidence suggests about the area's geological history and how the fossils could have ended up there.
The area was once covered by an ocean, where marine organisms lived and were buried in sediment. Over time, tectonic forces uplifted the rock, forming the mountain.
Why would radiocarbon dating be unsuitable for determining the age of a dinosaur fossil that is millions of years old?
Carbon-14 decays too quickly to be useful for dating materials millions of years old - it is used for fossils under 50,000 years old
We can use the Vibroseis Seismic Method to locate petroleum deposits in the Earth. Explain how this works
Seismic waves pass through liquid petroleum at a slower speed than they would through solid rock. We measure the speed of the waves to locate petroleum