Earth History
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Created by:
emmiexcskier on January 25, 2012
Description:
Unit 5 Grade 9 Earth Science
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23 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 stromatolites | are rocks made from millions of microscopic layers comprised of the remains of bacteria. They dominated the Earth for over 2 billion years and without the oxyegen they produced, we may not have evolved. They can still be seen in in Shark Bay, Australia. |
| Catastrophism | the school of the thought that believes singular,random and unpredictable events have been most responsible for the course of history |
| uniformitarianism | the idea that the same explainable and predictable geologic activity that takes place on the Earth today has been more instrumental in shaping our planet since its creation. |
| geologic time | a chronological record of the significant geologic events, life and continental positions on the Earth since its creation. The timeline is based upon fossil evidence and the rock record. |
| fossils | any evidence of prehistoric life, ie. Bones,footprints, molds,casts, etc. |
| index fossils (regents!) | a fossils that is a good geologic time marker (!!) (1)It existed over a short period of time (2) over a broad are, and has (3) easiliy recognizable volcanic ash has the same properties as an index fossil |
| the rock record | evidence of past geologic events that occurred in a given area derived from study of the type and size of rock layer formed throughout history. gaps are present due the weathering and erosion |
| orogeny | time of mountain building/formation |
| evolution | change,diversification, or adaption of a species to its environment over time (life started in the oceans) |
| extinctions | when a species ceases to exist |
| relative age | how old something is with respect to its surrondings |
| originial horizontality | the principal that sedimentary rocks layers are initially deposited in flat layers(usually under water) one on top of another. if they do not appear as such, some geologic activity has changed their position |
| supersition | the understanding that the rock layers on top of a sequence of stratum is the youngest whereas the layer on the bottom is the oldest(unless "overturning has occurred) |
| overturning | intense folding of rock layers that results in the older strata being pushed on top of the younger layers |
| 1. Deposition and Compaction | this step is always added when a sedimentary rock layer is present |
| 2. Intrusions/Extrusions | this step is used to explain the presence of igneous rock. Always accompanied by CONTACT METAMORPHISM extrusions won't show contact metamorphism on the layer's top |
| 3. Folding/tilting | when whole layers are bent, curved or tilted by tectonics |
| 4. Faulting | when layers are cut or displaced as a result of an earthquake |
| 5. Metamorphism | mentioned when a metamorphic rock layer is present, usually found at the bottom of sequences or next to intrusions/extrusions |
| 6. Weathering and Erosion | when some of a rock layer is missing or has been erased. sometimes shown as a layer with a wavy top |
| unconformity (regents!) | a buried erosional surface formed from compaction of sediments, weathering, and erosion, and then additional deposition and compaction |
| emergence | when a landscape uplifts above the water MUST OCCUR for WEATHERING AND EROSION to take place |
| submergence | ... |
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