Geological Time

Front

Where are the youngest rocks found in a syncline?

Back

Towards the center.

Front

What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?

Back

Relative dating determines what is younger or older. Absolute dating gives an estimate of how long ago something occurred.

Front

What caused the snowball earth event from 700 million to 600 million years ago?

Back

The continents were clustered near the equator reducing the warming and circulation of ocean currents.

Front

The law of _____________________ states that if rocks are left undisturbed, they will be nearly level and parallel to each other.

Back

Original horizontality.

Front

What is petrification in terms of fossilization?

Back

Petrification is a type of fossilization where organic material is replaced with minerals.

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

Relative dating is the method of determining the age of a rock or fossil in relation to other rocks or fossils.

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

Absolute dating is the process of determining the exact age of a rock or fossil using methods like radiometric dating.

Front

What are index fossils?

Back

Index fossils are fossils of organisms that were widespread but only existed for a short period, used to date rock layers.

Front

What is the principle of superposition?

Back

In an undisturbed sequence of rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Front

What is the significance of cross-cutting relationships?

Back

The principle states that a geological feature that cuts through another is younger than the feature it cuts.