Analyzing Rocks and Fossils Vocab

Uniformitarianism

• the concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes, such as erosion

• The theory that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes, such as the impact of a large meteor

• The geologic age of a fossil organism, rock or geologic feature or event defined relative to other organisms, rocks, or features or events

• A geological law that states in any undisturbed sequence of rock layers the youngest layer is on the top and the oldest layer is on the bottom

Answer explanation

Uniformitarianism is the concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes, such as erosion, contrasting with theories that emphasize sudden catastrophic events.

Catastrophism

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed

• The concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes, such as erosion,

• Fossils that are used to define and identify geologic time periods

• The theory that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes

Answer explanation

Catastrophism is the theory that major changes in the earth's crust occur due to sudden, catastrophic events, contrasting with gradual processes like erosion. This makes the correct choice the one describing sudden catastrophes.

Rock Cycle

• Fossils that are used to define and identify geologic time periods

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

• Who cares. they're just rocks

Answer explanation

The correct answer describes the rock cycle as a continuous process where rocks are formed, transformed, and destroyed. This definition captures the essence of how rocks interact over geological time.

Relative Age

• The geologic age of a fossil organism, rock or geologic feature or event defined relative to other organisms

• Fossils that are used to define and identify geologic time periods

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of the planet

Answer explanation

The correct choice defines relative age as the geologic age of a fossil or rock in relation to others, highlighting its context in the geological timeline.

Law of Superposition

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again

• A geological law that states in any undisturbed sequence of rock layers the youngest layer is on the top and the oldest layer is on the bottom

• The theory that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes

Answer explanation

The Law of Superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest is at the bottom, which helps geologists determine the relative ages of rock formations.

Intrusion

• A gap in the sequence of rock layers; The surface where new rock layers meet a much older rock surface beneath them

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of the planet

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again.

• The geologic age of a fossil organism, rock or geologic feature or event defined relative to other organisms

Answer explanation

Intrusion refers to rock formations created when magma cools and solidifies within the Earth's crust, making the second answer choice the correct one. The other options describe different geological concepts.

Extrusion

• Going to Badachu park and riding the slide down

• Fossils that are used to define and identify geologic time

  periods

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of the

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

Answer explanation

Extrusion refers to rock formations created from magma that cools and solidifies above the Earth's surface, distinguishing it from formations that occur within the crust.

Unconformity

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of the planet

• A gap in the sequence of rock layers; The surface where new rock layers meet a much older rock surface beneath them

• the concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes

Answer explanation

An unconformity represents a gap in the geological record where new rock layers are deposited over much older rock surfaces, indicating a period of erosion or non-deposition.

Index Fossil

• A continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again

• The theory that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes,

• Fossils that are used to define and identify geologic time

  periods

• Rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

Answer explanation

Index fossils are specific fossils used to define and identify geologic time periods, making them crucial for dating rock layers and understanding Earth's history.

Geologic Time Scale

• A timeline that organizes Earth's history into different periods

• A method for determining the age of rocks using radiometric dating

• A scale used to measure the hardness of minerals

• A classification system for different types of rocks