Fossils
Which type of rock is BEST for finding fossils?
Sedimentary rock
This event is defined by the death of every single member of a specific biological species.
Extinction
True or False: All types of rocks can transform from one type to another in an endless cycle.
True
What are some examples of evidence that the supercontinent Pangea once existed?
Matching coastlines of continents, matching mountain ranges, fossils of the same organism being found on separate continents.
Where will you find the youngest and oldest layers in the ground?
Youngest on the top, oldest on the bottom.
Why are ammonites or trilobites used as index fossils?
Their shells are distinctive and easy to identify
This famous 66-million-year-old boundary event marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the wipeout of non-avian dinosaurs.
K-Pg Mass Extinction
What processes are responsible for forming metamorphic rock?
Heat and Pressure
What is the best explanation for the same fossil being found in both South America and Africa?
The continents were once connected
In undisturbed rock layers, how does the top layer compare to the layers underneath?
The top layer is younger compared to the layers below it.
What role do index fossils play in understanding Earth's history?
They determine the relative age of fossils found in the same rock layer
Eons are divided into these smaller sections, which include the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
Era's
What processes lead to the formation of sedimentary rock?
Weathering/Erosion, Deposition and Compaction
Where can scientists find evidence that Earth's crust has been lifted above its original level?
Findings fossils of sea animals on top of mountains.
In a sequence of rock layers, a fault cuts across several layers but not the topmost layer. What does this observation most likely indicate about the fault?
The fault is younger than the layers it cuts
Heat and pressure change sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock. What MOST LIKELY happens to fossils inside the rock during transformation?
The fossils are usually destroyed or changed.
Provide an example of both relative and absolute dating.
Relative: Age of something based on position
Absolute: Exact age of something
This term describes the dropped settling or laying down of eroded sediments in a new location, such as a river delta or lake bed, before they turn to stone.
Deposition
What are the 3 types of plate tectonic boundaries and the movement of each?
Convergent: pushes against each other
Divergent: moves away from each other
Transform: slides against each other
Why is sedimentary rock the best rock for studying Earth's history?
They preserve fossils, act as a timeline, and preserve evidence about past climates and environments.
Explain the process in which fossils are formed.
1. The organism dies
2. The organism is quickly covered by sediment
3. The sediment is compacted and cemented preserving the organism
What is the BEST predictor for the relative age of a rock layer?
It's position in the ground
What is the difference between extrusive and intrusive igneous rock?
Extrusive forms above the surface, intrusive forms below the surface.
Explain the theory of Continental Drift.
The theory that explains all of the continents were once connected into one large supercontinent called Pangaea. Scientists believe that over time, the continents slowly drifted away from each other sitting where they are today.
An index fossil is found in Layer 2 of Location A and Layer 4 of Location B. How can you explain the ages of the rocks in both layers 2 and 4 based on the presence of the INDEX FOSSILS.
Layer 2 and Layer 4 are relatively the same age because they contain the same index fossil.