Historical Geology & Principles of Stratigraphy

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms from the lecture on Historical Geology and Principles of Stratigraphy.

Neptunism

The theory that all rocks were formed from precipitation from a great ocean.

Plutonism

The theory that volcanic rocks originate from Earth's internal heat.

Uniformitarianism

The principle stating that natural laws governing geologic processes operate today as they have throughout geologic time.

Principle of Superposition

Steno's law that states the oldest rock layer is on the bottom.

Principle of Original Horizontality

Steno's law that states sedimentary layers are deposited in flat, level layers.

Half-Life

The time required for one-half of the Parent element to decay into the Daughter product.

Geochronology

The technique for determining the actual numerical age of rocks and geologic events.

Catastrophism

The theory proposed by George Cuvier that suggests that the Earth's features are a result of catastrophic events.

Principle of Cross-cutting Relationships

The principle stating that a fault or intrusion must be younger than the layers it cuts across.

Isotope

An atom of an element that has a differing number of neutrons, which changes the mass number.

Faunal (Fossil) Succession

The principle that uses the evolution and forms of life to sequence rock units.

Ion

An atom with an unequal number of protons and electrons.

Mass Number

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Atomic Number

The amount of protons in the nucleus.

Gene Combination

The genetic makeup caused by genetic mutation and reproduction, described by Gregor Mendel.

Charles Lyell

The geologist who wrote the first geology textbook and championed Uniformitarianism.

Neptunism

The theory that all rocks were formed from precipitation from a great ocean.

Plutonism

The theory that volcanic rocks originate from Earth's internal heat.

Uniformitarianism

The principle stating that natural laws governing geologic processes operate today as they have throughout geologic time.

Principle of Superposition

Steno's law that states the oldest rock layer is on the bottom.

Principle of Original Horizontality

Steno's law that states sedimentary layers are deposited in flat, level layers.

Half-Life

The time required for one-half of the Parent element to decay into the Daughter product.

Geochronology

The technique for determining the actual numerical age of rocks and geologic events.

Catastrophism

The theory proposed by George Cuvier that suggests that the Earth's features are a result of catastrophic events.

Principle of Cross-cutting Relationships

The principle stating that a fault or intrusion must be younger than the layers it cuts across.

Isotope

An atom of an element that has a differing number of neutrons, which changes the mass number.

Faunal (Fossil) Succession

The principle that uses the evolution and forms of life to sequence rock units.

Ion

An atom with an unequal number of protons and electrons.

Mass Number

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Atomic Number

The amount of protons in the nucleus.

Gene Combination

The genetic makeup caused by genetic mutation and reproduction, described by Gregor Mendel.

Charles Lyell

The geologist who wrote the first geology textbook and championed Uniformitarianism.

Pro

before

Phanero

evidence

Paleo

ancient

Meso

middle

Ceno

new