Lecture Exam 20 Questions

1. What is the Neptunism hypothesis, proposed by Abraham

-Rocks were formed from a primeval, worldwide ocean.

2. Which hypothesis was proposed by Baron George

-Catastrophism

3. Who is considered the Father of Historical Geology?

-William “Strata” Smith

4. What does the term "stratification" refer to in geology?

-The layering of rock sequences

5. What is an unconformity in geological terms?

-A break in deposition caused by millions of years passing. 

6. What is the most common type of unconformity?

-Disconformity

7. What causes a lateral change in lithology?

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

8. What are index fossils used for in stratigraphy?

To determine the age of rock units or layers.

9. Which of the following elements are necessary for life?

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen

10. Which process began during the Archean that led to the formation of the ozone layer?

Photochemical dissociation

11. What type of life forms existed during the Archean eon?

Prokaryotic single celled organisms

12. Where are the oldest known stromatolites found?

Australia

13. What is the main component of the early Earth's atmosphere during the Archean eon?

Hydrogen and Helium

14. Which rock type is most abundant in Archean rocks?

Granite gneiss complexes

15. During the Proterozoic eon, what type of rocks began to dominate?

Metamorphic rocks

16. Which major supercontinent formed during the Proterozoic eon?

Rodinia

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

Alternating layers of iron and silica

18. What was the significance of the Ediacaran fauna discovered in Australia?

It showed the existence of soft bodied marine organisms.

19. What was the primary cause of sea level changes (transgressions and regressions) during the early Paleozoic?

Tectonic plate movements

20. What is a key feature of the Taconic Orogeny?

It marked the closure of the Iapetus Ocean.