Rock Deformation and Stratified Rocks Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What type of stress is exerted at a transform fault?

  • Shear (correct)
  • Compressional
  • Confining
  • Tensional

Which type of stress is primarily found at a convergent boundary?

  • Tensional
  • Translational
  • Compressional (correct)
  • Shear

What type of stress is experienced at a divergent boundary?

  • Tensional (correct)
  • Shear
  • Confining
  • Compressional

What term describes the stress on rocks caused by parallel forces moving past each other?

<p>Shear (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the type of stress that pulls rocks in opposite directions?

<p>Tensional (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do rocks deep within the crust primarily deform under high confining pressures?

<p>Folding (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do potentially active faults indicate about their movement?

<p>They may not have moved in the last 10,000 years. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What results from stress applied to rocks?

<p>Deformation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the principle of superposition, where would the oldest rock layer be found?

<p>At the bottom of the sequence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of original horizontality indicate about sedimentary layers?

<p>They are deposited in horizontal or nearly horizontal layers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a sequence of geological events, which of the following is true according to the principle of cross-cutting relations?

<p>Younger features cut across older features (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer would be considered the youngest in a sequence if it has been faulted?

<p>The layer that is faulted (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If layer C is older than layer B and layer B is older than layer A, what can be determined about the sequence?

<p>Layer C is the oldest layer (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In relative dating, what is primarily assessed?

<p>The sequence of rock layers and events (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that an igneous intrusion is younger than the sedimentary layers it cuts through?

<p>It cuts across the sedimentary layers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs after the intrusion of igneous rock in geological events according to the principles discussed?

<p>The occurrence of a fault that displaces layers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a fault from a fracture?

<p>A fault involves relative motion between rock bodies. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process leads to the formation of sedimentary rocks?

<p>Accumulation and hardening of sediments. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of bedding in sedimentary rocks?

<p>It reflects the changes in deposition conditions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who contributed to the principles of stratigraphy that geologists use today?

<p>Nicholas Steno, William Smith, and James Hutton. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do sediment layers typically represent?

<p>An interval of time where conditions remained stable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to sediments deposited in calm water?

<p>They form horizontal layers as they settle. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What illustration does Steno's work provide regarding fossil seashells?

<p>They indicate a past marine environment regardless of location. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens if surface conditions remain unchanged for a long time during sediment deposition?

<p>Only thick, undifferentiated sedimentary rocks will form. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines an index fossil?

<p>It must be widespread and exist for a relatively short duration. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of faunal succession indicate?

<p>Certain fossils are exclusive to specific geological periods. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does absolute dating differ from relative dating?

<p>Absolute dating assigns an exact age to a rock layer. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does radiometric dating play in geology?

<p>It measures the decay rate of isotopes to determine age. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are certain fossil types never found with others, like human ancestors with dinosaurs?

<p>They represent different geological ages. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one benefit of using more than one radioactive isotope in radiometric dating?

<p>It increases the precision and accuracy of age estimates. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the breaks in relative geologic time established by geologists?

<p>They help to identify different geological eras. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does an organism become an index fossil?

<p>It must have unique features that distinguish its age rapidly. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Rock Deformation and Stratified Rocks

  • Plate movement results in geological features like folds and faults through tectonic interactions, including compression, tension, and shear stress.

  • Stress on rocks is the force applied per unit area, leading to deformation known as strain, which encompasses changes in size, shape, or volume.

  • Folds occur deep in the crust as colliding plates compress rocks, creating permanent curves rather than returning to their original shape.

  • Faults represent fractures where significant movement has occurred; they are characterized by the relative motion of rock bodies, such as the San Andreas Fault in California.

Stratified Rocks

  • Stratified rocks, primarily sedimentary, form from the accumulation of sediments and organic materials, exhibiting distinct layering or bedding.

  • Sediments are generated through weathering and erosion, collecting in various environments and hardening over time to create rock layers known as strata.

  • The principles of stratigraphy aid in comparing historical timelines of sedimentary layers, with important contributors including Nicholas Steno, William Smith, and James Hutton.

Principles of Stratigraphy

  • Principle of Superposition: In undisturbed layers, the oldest rock is found at the bottom, with progressively younger layers above it.

  • Principle of Original Horizontality: Sedimentary strata are typically deposited in horizontal layers unless disturbed by geological forces.

  • Principle of Cross-cutting Relationships: Features like faults or intrusions are younger than the rocks they disrupt.

Relative Dating of Stratified Rocks

  • Relative dating compares the ages of rocks without providing specific numerical dates, determining the sequence of geological events.

  • Index fossils can serve as indicators of relative age due to their widespread presence and brief existence in the geological record.

Absolute Dating of Stratified Rocks

  • Absolute dating provides specific ages for rocks using techniques such as radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes over time to determine age.

  • Findings suggest that the age of certain metamorphic rocks can reach back billions of years, significantly aiding our understanding of Earth's geologic timeline.

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