Fossils & Time: Geology Quiz


Froggy Jumps Fossils & Time: Geology QuizOnline version Geology time concepts quiz by NIDA P. OSANO 1 What does the law of superposition state in undisturbed rock layers? a Younger layers are on top of older layers b Older layers are on top of younger layers c All layers are the same age in a sequence 2 What is an index fossil used for? a To indicate the chemical composition of fossils b To define and identify the relative age of rock layers c To determine the exact age of rocks 3 Radiometric dating relies on the decay of what? a Fossil pigments b Stable isotopes c Radioactive isotopes 4 Half-life is the time for what to occur? a Half of the radioactive substance to decay b The time rocks take to form c Total decay of the substance 5 Carbon dating is suitable for dating which materials? a Igneous rocks b Meteorites c Organic materials up to about 50,000 years old 6 Which geologic time units are largest to smallest? a Epoch, Period, Era, Eon b Eon, Era, Period, Epoch c Era, Eon, Epoch, Period 7 What does an unconformity in rock records indicate? a A volcanic eruption layer only b A gap in the geologic record c A perfectly continuous record 8 Which principle explains sediments are deposited horizontally? a Original horizontality b Principle of inclusions c Law of cross-cutting relations 9 Which dating method provides an absolute age? a Index fossil dating b Radiometric dating c Relative dating 10 What does correlation in geology involve? a Comparing rock colors b Assuming all rocks are the same age globally c Matching rocks of the same age in different areas

1

What does the law of superposition state in undisturbed rock layers?

a

Younger layers are on top of older layers

b

Older layers are on top of younger layers

c

All layers are the same age in a sequence

2

What is an index fossil used for?

a

To indicate the chemical composition of fossils

b

To define and identify the relative age of rock layers

c

To determine the exact age of rocks

3

Radiometric dating relies on the decay of what?

a

Fossil pigments

b

Stable isotopes

c

Radioactive isotopes

4

Half-life is the time for what to occur?

a

Half of the radioactive substance to decay

b

The time rocks take to form

c

Total decay of the substance

5

Carbon dating is suitable for dating which materials?

a

Igneous rocks

b

Meteorites

c

Organic materials up to about 50,000 years old

6

Which geologic time units are largest to smallest?

a

Epoch, Period, Era, Eon

b

Eon, Era, Period, Epoch

c

Era, Eon, Epoch, Period

7

What does an unconformity in rock records indicate?

a

A volcanic eruption layer only

b

A gap in the geologic record

c

A perfectly continuous record

8

Which principle explains sediments are deposited horizontally?

a

Original horizontality

b

Principle of inclusions

c

Law of cross-cutting relations

9

Which dating method provides an absolute age?

a

Index fossil dating

b

Radiometric dating

c

Relative dating

10

What does correlation in geology involve?

a

Comparing rock colors

b

Assuming all rocks are the same age globally

c

Matching rocks of the same age in different areas

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