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Questions and Answers
What significant event is associated with the Archean Eon?
What significant event is associated with the Archean Eon?
- First fish appeared
- Origin of multicelled organisms
- First eukaryotes emerged (correct)
- Dominance of trilobites
The Hadean Eon is known for the presence of life on Earth.
The Hadean Eon is known for the presence of life on Earth.
False (B)
What technique uses fossils to establish the relative ages of rocks?
What technique uses fossils to establish the relative ages of rocks?
Biostratigraphy
The process of estimating the true age of a rock or fossil based on radioactive decay is known as __________ dating.
The process of estimating the true age of a rock or fossil based on radioactive decay is known as __________ dating.
Match the geological periods with their known features:
Match the geological periods with their known features:
Which period saw the appearance of modern humans?
Which period saw the appearance of modern humans?
The Jurassic period is known for the dominance of flowering plants.
The Jurassic period is known for the dominance of flowering plants.
What type of mammals appear during the Paleocene period?
What type of mammals appear during the Paleocene period?
The __________ major extinction event in the Permian caused the loss of 95% of marine species.
The __________ major extinction event in the Permian caused the loss of 95% of marine species.
Match the geological period with its notable characteristics:
Match the geological period with its notable characteristics:
What was a significant characteristic of the Oligocene period?
What was a significant characteristic of the Oligocene period?
The Eocene period is known for the dominance of reptiles.
The Eocene period is known for the dominance of reptiles.
In which period did flowering plants first extensively radiate?
In which period did flowering plants first extensively radiate?
What is the estimated age of the Earth?
What is the estimated age of the Earth?
The oldest dated rock from the Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
The oldest dated rock from the Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
What are fossils?
What are fossils?
The __________ Time Scale is based on the rock record and divides geologic time into Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs.
The __________ Time Scale is based on the rock record and divides geologic time into Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs.
Match the following geologic time intervals with their definitions:
Match the following geologic time intervals with their definitions:
Which event marks the boundary between the Mesozoic Era and the Cenozoic Era?
Which event marks the boundary between the Mesozoic Era and the Cenozoic Era?
The rock record is complete and preserves all events in Earth's history.
The rock record is complete and preserves all events in Earth's history.
What significant biological event occurred in the Quaternary period?
What significant biological event occurred in the Quaternary period?
Flashcards
Geologic Time Scale
Geologic Time Scale
A system of chronological dating that classifies Earth's history into various units, such as eons, eras, periods, and epochs.
Relative Dating
Relative Dating
Determining the age of rocks or events in relation to other rocks or events, without giving a specific numerical age.
Absolute Dating
Absolute Dating
Determining the precise numerical age of a rock or fossil by measuring radioactive decay.
Biostratigraphy
Biostratigraphy
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Eon
Eon
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Age of Earth
Age of Earth
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Rock record incompleteness
Rock record incompleteness
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Fossils
Fossils
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Fossil record
Fossil record
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Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs
Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs
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Mass Extinction Event (Dinosaurs)
Mass Extinction Event (Dinosaurs)
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Oldest dated Earth rock
Oldest dated Earth rock
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Modern humans appear
Modern humans appear
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First hominids appear
First hominids appear
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Coevolution of insects & flowering plants
Coevolution of insects & flowering plants
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First reptiles
First reptiles
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Extensive coal swamp forests
Extensive coal swamp forests
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First amphibians
First amphibians
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Rise of all major animal groups
Rise of all major animal groups
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Mass extinction of marine species
Mass extinction of marine species
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Study Notes
Age of Earth and Geologic Time Scale
- Earth's history spans 4.6 billion years.
- Oldest dated Earth rock is ~3.8 billion years old.
- Age determined through radioactive isotopic dating of meteorites.
Rocks and Fossils
- Earth's history is recorded in rocks, but the record is incomplete.
- Some events leave no record or are not preserved.
- Rocks contain fossils—remains or traces of past life.
- Fossils provide evidence for evolution (increasing complexity).
Geologic Time Scale
- Timeline of Earth's history.
- Divided into hierarchical intervals: Eon, Era, Period, Epoch.
- Subdivisions based on significant events in Earth's history.
- Determined by interpretations of the rock record.
- Mass extinction event (dinosaurs) marks the boundary between the Mesozoic (Age of Reptiles) and Cenozoic (Age of Mammals).
- This was a pivotal time in mammals' rise to dominance.
Establishing Geologic Time
- Nicholas Steno (1638-1686) first recognized the connection between rocks and time. Principles like superposition, original horizontality, and lateral continuity are foundational in stratigraphy (study of layered rocks).
- Relative dating techniques—early attempts by geologists to order rock layers by relative time, using the Principle of Superposition.
- Werner's classification categorized rock-time units.
- Fossils are essential tools; different fossils appear in specific rock strata, used in establishing correlation between rock units.
- Smith's work with fossils allowed the subdivision of rock units. Lyell further refined the time correlation utilizing fossil evidence.
Fossil Importance
- Fossils are key to understanding the geologic time.
- Biostratigraphy is a sub-discipline of stratigraphy that uses fossils to correlate and establish relative ages of rocks.
- Relative dating involves comparing events to determine chronologic order.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of the Earth and the geologic time scale in this quiz. Learn about the age of the Earth, key events, and how fossil records contribute to our understanding of evolution. Test your knowledge on significant geological timelines and the pivotal moments in Earth's history.
