Analyzing Rock and Fossil Records

What scientific law tells us that if one rock layer crosses over other layers, then that layer of rock will be younger than any rock layers that it crosses?

• Cross-cutting

• Original Horizontality

• Unconformities

• Inclusions

You are a geologist and come across a layer of marine fossils buried beneath a layer of plant fossils only found on land. What does that tell you about the past climate in that area?

• It was once a marine habitat that experienced a mass extinction and changed the climate from marine to dry land.

• It was once a forest and is now a prairie after a mass extinction.

• There is not enough evidence to make any theories.

• It is not possible for marine fossils to be located below plant fossils only found on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is the idea that geologic processes are occurring now are the same as those that occurred in the past?

• Unconformities

• Uniformitarianism

• Epicism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

In layers of sedimentary rock, the _________ layer is usually at the bottom. Each higher layer is _________ than the layers below it.

• oldest, younger

• youngest, older

• youngest, younger

• oldest, older

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Inclusions are younger than the formation of sedimentary rock layers that surround them.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The Law of Crosscutting states that a fault or inclusion is __________ than the bodies of rock it cuts through.

• younger

• older

• funnier

• nastier

Which principle states that sediments spread out flat, in all directions, until they either thin out or run into a barrier.

• Principle of Superposition

• Principle of original horizontality

• Principle of original lateral continuity

The idea that sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal layers unless disturbed by forces within the Earth can best be explained by which principle?

• Principle of horizontality

• Principle of Superposition

• Principle of original lateral continuity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What scientific law tells us that if one rock layer contains pieces or fragments of another rock layer, then the fragments will be older than the rock layer that surrounds it.

• Cross-cutting

• Original Horizontality

• Unconformities

• Inclusions

What term refers to the age of a rock or fossil compared to other rocks or fossils?

• Absolute age

• Relative age

• Lateral age

• Horizontal age