Geologic History

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Geologic Time Scale
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Terms in this set (11)
Geologic Time Scale
a model of the divisions of geologic time.
Unconformities
buried eroded surfaces.
Uniformity of Process
The uniformity of process implies that "the present is the key to the past." This principle assumes that geologic processes happening today also occurred in the past and that much of the rock record can be interpreted by observing present geologic processes.
You are searching for fossils in the surface bedrock in Elmira, New York. Why are you unlikely to find dinosaur fossils at this location?
The bedrock was cemented there before the dinosaurs were alive, making it impossible for the dinosaur fossils to be located in the bedrock.
During which time was the majority of the exposed bedrock in New York State deposited?
A. Precambrian
B. Mesozoic
C. Cenozoic
D. Paleozoic
D
Rocks containing fossils of the earliest land plants would most likely be found in New York State bedrock near
A. Syracuse
B. Oswego
C. Ithaca
D. Old Forge
A
Approximately how long ago were the Taconic Mountains uplifted?
A. 540 million years ago
B. 470 million years ago
C. 310 million years ago
D. 120 million years ago
B
The geologic time scale has been subdivided into a number of time units largely on the basis of
A. fossil evidence
B. rock thickness
C. rock types
D. radioactive dating
A
Fossils are rarely found in Precambrian rocks because, at that time
A. no life existed
B. few life forms had hard parts
C. few sedimentary rocks formed
D. a meteorite impact destroyed most fossils
B
Because the chemical, physical, geological, and biological characteristics of nature remain the same throughout time, we can interpret the past and
A. prevent natural disasters
B. identify unconformities
C. predict natural hazard events
D. determine the age of bedrock
B
"The present is the key to the past." Explain what this statement means in the context of geologic history.It means that things in science stay the same throughout time and can figure things out about the future using what we know about the past.