Last ES Midterm Review

Front

Compared to the granitic continental crust, the basaltic oceanic crust is

Back

Thinner and more dense.

Front

What method is used to accurately measure the geologic age of fossil pollen recovered from late-Pleistocene lakes?

Back

Carbon-14 dating.

Front

If it takes a P-wave five minutes to travel from the epicenter of an earthquake to a seismic station, how long will it take an S-wave to travel that same distance?

Back

Approximately 9 minutes.

Front

What determines the crystal shape and type of cleavage of minerals?

Back

Composition and atomic arrangement.

Front

How is geologic history divided into eras, periods, and epochs?

Back

Based on fossil evidence found in bedrock.

Front

What is the primary difference between oceanic and continental crust?

Back

Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.

Front

What is the significance of carbon-14 in geology?

Back

It is used for dating organic materials up to about 50,000 years old.

Front

What are P-waves and S-waves?

Back

P-waves are primary waves that travel faster than S-waves, which are secondary waves.

Front

What is the role of atomic arrangement in mineral properties?

Back

It determines the mineral's crystal shape and cleavage.

Front

What is the importance of fossil evidence in geology?

Back

It helps to date rock layers and understand Earth's history.