Lecture Exam 20 Questions

What is the Neptunism hypothesis?

Proposed by Abraham, it suggests that rocks were formed from a primeval, worldwide ocean.

Which hypothesis was proposed by Baron George?

Catastrophism

Who is considered the Father of Historical Geology?

William 'Strata' Smith is considered the Father of Historical Geology.

What is stratification?

The layering of rock sequences in geology.

What is an unconformity?

A break in deposition caused by millions of years passing.

What is the most common type of unconformity?

Disconformity

What causes lateral change in lithology?

Continental uplift, Faulting or erosion, Sediment deposition in a basin, so all of the above

What are index fossils used for?

Used in stratigraphy to determine the age of rock units or layers.

What are the necessary elements for life?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen are essential for life.

What is photochemical dissociation?

The process that began during the Archean leading to the formation of the ozone layer.

What life forms existed during the Archean eon?

Prokaryotic single-celled organisms.

Where are the oldest known stromatolites located?

In Australia.

What was the atmosphere composition during the Archean?

Hydrogen and Helium.

What is the most abundant rock type in Archean?

Granite gneiss complexes.

What was the dominant rock type during the Proterozoic eon?

Metamorphic rocks.

What was the major supercontinent during the Proterozoic?

Rodinia.

What is the defining feature of banded iron formations (BIFs)?

Characterized by alternating layers of iron and silica.

What is the significance of Ediacaran fauna?

It showed the existence of soft-bodied marine organisms.

What caused sea level changes in early Paleozoic?

Tectonic plate movements were the primary cause of sea level changes during this period.

What is a key feature of the Taconic Orogeny?

Marked the closure of the Iapetus Ocean.