Geological Time Scale and Fossilization Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the largest subunit of the geologic time scale?

  • Eon (correct)
  • Epoch
  • Period
  • Era

    • Which of the following correctly describes how geologic time divisions are determined?

  • Based solely on human historical events
  • Set in chronological order without debate
  • Determined by the age of rock layers only
  • Based on major geological and life form changes (correct)

    • What is the current epoch traditionally known as?

  • Holocene (correct)
  • Meghalayan
  • Anthropocene
  • Pleistocene

    • Which factor is cited as a potential reason for redefining the current epoch?

    <p>Human-driven climate change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do geologists use to mark the end of one geologic time unit and the beginning of another?

    <p>Significant climate changes and mass extinctions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has led some scientists to propose the Anthropocene epoch?

    <p>The effects of fossil fuel consumption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the edges of geologic time units described in the context of scientific research?

    <p>Helpful organizational guidelines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What epoch do some scientists believe began around 1950?

    <p>Anthropocene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of sediment accumulation in the fossilization process?

    <p>To cover and protect the organism while providing minerals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process occurs after sediment accumulation in fossilization?

    <p>Lithification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fossil is formed when organic material, such as wood, is mineralized?

    <p>Petrified wood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes permineralization?

    <p>The replacement of organic material with minerals from surrounding sediments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does anaerobic conditions affect the decay process?

    <p>It significantly slows or halts the decay process</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are plant fossils important to scientists?

    <p>They provide insight into plant evolution and historical climates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors contribute to the creation of petrified wood?

    <p>Silica, calcite, and quartz mineralization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the final stage of the fossilization process?

    <p>Permineralization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily determines the mass of an atom?

    <p>Protons and neutrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following isotopes of carbon has the greatest mass?

    <p>Carbon 14</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the transformation of an unstable isotope into a stable one by releasing energy?

    <p>Radioactive decay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is carbon-14 created in the atmosphere?

    <p>From nitrogen-14 interacting with cosmic rays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the half-life of carbon-14?

    <p>5,730 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After the death of an organism, what stops its intake of carbon-14?

    <p>Death halts new carbon absorption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method used in archaeology to measure time passage?

    <p>Radiocarbon dating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms absorb carbon-14 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis?

    <p>Plants and algae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a higher ratio of 18O in ocean waters indicate about historical global temperatures?

    <p>Colder temperatures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do foraminifera contribute to our understanding of past ocean temperatures?

    <p>They absorb and incorporate oxygen isotopes from their environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from analyzing the stable isotopes in the bones and teeth of living organisms?

    <p>Their diet and migration patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes C3 plants from C4 plants in terms of carbon dioxide absorption?

    <p>C3 plants incorporate carbon dioxide as a three-carbon molecule, while C4 plants use a four-carbon molecule.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one method scientists use to reconstruct historical global temperatures?

    <p>Analyzing sediment cores for oxygen isotope ratios</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT directly affect the oxygen isotope ratios found in ocean sediments?

    <p>Depth of ocean sediment layers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do stable isotopes play in understanding animal diets?

    <p>They identify the types of food consumed by organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process do plants undergo to incorporate atmospheric carbon dioxide?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the discovery of the White Sands footprints indicate about human presence in the Americas?

    <p>Humans have been in the Americas for over 20,000 years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Acoma Pueblo word for camel relate to the species known as Camelops hesternus?

    <p>The word likely describes the extinct Pleistocene camel species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does necropolitics describe in relation to human life?

    <p>The political implications of how governments value lives differently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the discovery of the La Brea Woman considered controversial?

    <p>Her remains were displayed without tribal consent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge do the White Sands footprints pose to existing migration theories?

    <p>They challenge the “ice-free corridor” expansion model.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can scientific inquiry benefit from Indigenous knowledge according to the findings discussed?

    <p>It can enhance understanding and validation of historical narratives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the assumption of scientists regarding the Acoma Pueblo word for camel before the discovery of the footprints?

    <p>It was believed to describe modern camels only.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What implications does necropolitics have for the treatment of deceased individuals?

    <p>It suggests that political contexts can influence how the dead are treated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of calibration curves in radiocarbon dating?

    <p>To adjust radiocarbon dates to reflect more accurate calendar dates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which dating methods can reach dates further back in time than radiocarbon dating?

    <p>Potassium-argon and argon-argon dating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of materials are potassium-argon and argon-argon dating techniques primarily used on?

    <p>Volcanic rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the potassium-argon dating technique rely on?

    <p>The decay of potassium 40 into argon 40 gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the layers surrounding a fossil provide dating information?

    <p>They can give a minimum and maximum age based on stratigraphy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant change occurred in radiocarbon calibration curves in 2020?

    <p>They were updated and could alter existing site dates significantly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was unique about the site of Gesher Benot Ya’aqo?

    <p>It featured an uncommonly used basalt material in tool technology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'stratigraphy' refer to in the context of dating fossils?

    <p>The analysis of sediment layers and their chronological sequence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Chapter 7: Studying the Fossil Record

    • Piedras y huesos: Studying the fossil record
    • Sarah S. King, Ph.D., and Kara Jones, M.A.
    • Exploration: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, 2nd Edition
    • Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

    Objectives

    • Identify types of fossils and how they form.
    • Discuss relative and chronometric dating methods, including materials and applications.
    • Explain methods for reconstructing past environments.

    Mary Anning and the Age of Wonder

    • Mary Anning (1799-1847) was a famous fossil hunter.
    • She worked on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, England.
    • Her discoveries were crucial for advancing the understanding of evolution.
    • She had a significant impact on notable scientists of the time.

    Fossils and the Taphonomic Process

    • Fossils are remnants of past life forms.
    • Taphonomy studies processes after an organism dies, leading to fossilization.
    • Factors like burial environment, animal activity, and environmental factors affect fossilization.

    Types of Fossils

    • Plant Fossils: Petrified wood is a common type
    • Human/Animal Remains: Complete skeletons of early humans, like Lucy and Little Foot, provide valuable information.
    • Trace Fossils: Footprints, nests, and burrows provide evidence of past activity.

    Special Topic: Bog Bodies and Mummies

    • Bog bodies are preserved in acidic and waterlogged environments.
    • Ice mummies are preserved in extreme cold.
    • These sources provide insights into past lives.

    Dating Methods

    • Relative Dating:
      • Stratigraphy: Layers of sediment indicate relative age
      • Biostratigraphy: Using fossils to determine relative age
      • Cultural dating: Categorizing artifacts based on styles and characteristics
      • Fluorine dating: Comparing the fluorine content in bones and other materials to determine relative age
    • Chronometric (Absolute) Dating:
      • Radiocarbon dating: Determines age based on the decay of radioactive carbon
      • Potassium-argon/Argon-Argon dating: Used to date volcanic rock
      • Uranium series dating: Measures the decay of various uranium isotopes

    Environmental Reconstruction

    • Contextual information helps understand the environments in which fossils were found and when.
    • Methods like sediment analysis, pollen, and stable isotopes help reconstruct environments.

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    Related Documents

    Explorations: Una Invitación Abierta a la Antropología Biológica, 2ª Edición - Capitulo 7: Piedras y Huesos PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the geological time scale, including its largest subunits, divisions, and the current epoch. Dive into the processes of fossilization and learn about the significance of plant fossils. This quiz is perfect for students studying earth science or geology.

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