Geologic Time & Index Fossils Jeopardy

Reading the Geologic Timeline

100

1. The Geologic Timeline represents what?

1. The history of the Earth 

200

1. How old is the Earth?

About 4.6 Billion years old

300

_{If we read the Geologic Timeline like the law of superposition, what is the oldest period shown, and what is the most recent (current) period shown?}

Oldest = Cambrian

Most recent = Quaternary

400

_{What Eon, Era and Period are we currently living in?}

Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era, Quarternary Period

500

_{Which period in the Mesozoic Era lasted the longest in geologic history?}

Cretaceous = 79 million years

_{Jurassic = 62 million years}

_{Triassic = 42 million years}

Law of Superposition

100

The Law of Superposition states that the oldest rock layers are always on the __________, and the layers that formed on top of those layers are _______________

bottom, younger

200

The law of superposition gives us the ... of rock layers.

A. Absolute age

B. Relative age

B. Relative age

300

What is the relative age of Layer E?

Layer E is younger than Layer F but older than Layer D

400

Put all the layers in order from youngest to oldest based on the fossils within each layer.

Youngest

A

B & D

E

C & F

Oldest

500

Put the layers in order from youngest to oldest based on the matching fossil layers and stone layer patterns.

youngest 

G

A & H

B & I

C & D

E

F

oldest

Index Fossils

100

What type of rock are fossils most likely to be found in?

A. Metamorphic

B. Sedimentary

C. Igneous

B. Sedimentary

200

Do Index Fossils give us the relative age or absolute age of rock layers?

A. Relative Age

B. Absolute Age

A. Relative Age

300

What are the 3 characteristics a fossil needs to be considered an index fossil?

1. Lived over a short period of time

2. Lived in many places on the planet

3. Is easy to recognize

400

Looking at Layer C1 & Layer C2, which has a shorter relative age range? Explain how you know.

Layer C2 because both layers contain Ginkgo fossils, but Layer C2 contains an ammonite fossil that lived for a much shorter time period than the Coelacanths that was found in Layer C1

Relative Age Range for C1 = 200 myo - present

Relative Age Range for C2 = ~150 myo - ~75myo 

500

Looking at these 3 rock layer outcrops, what is the best index fossil? When deciding, pay attention to the three characteristics that make up a good index fossil to help you.

The Trilobite

Age of Rock Outcrops

100

Describe the relative age of Layer A5 using only rock layers from Outcrop A.

Layer A5 is younger than Layer A___ but older than Layer A___

Layer A5 is...

younger than Layer A6 & A7

older than Layers A1, A2, A3, A4

200

4 layers match up to be the same age based on the fossils found. For example, Layer B1 matches C6. 

Name the other 3 matchups.

Layer A1 & Layer B5

Layer A2 & Layer B6

Layer B3 & Layer C8

300

1. Of all the rock layers in the picture, what is the oldest layer of rock? 

2. Of all the rock layers in the picture, what is the youngest layer of rock?

1. Oldest = A7

2. Youngest = C1

400

If Layer B3 is 10myo and Layer B5 is 14myo describe the relative ages for Layers B4. 

Layer B4 is older than 10myo but younger than 14myo

500

If Layer B3 is 10myo and Layer B5 is 14myo describe the relative ages for Layer A2 & Layer C6. 

Layer A2 is older than 14myo but younger than Layer A3

Layer C6 is older than Layer C7 but younger than 10myo

Final Jeopardy Question

500

Youngest 

C

D

A

B

Oldest