GEOL 1404 Fall 2010

Review Topics for Exam II

Chapter 6 - Correlation and Dating of the Rock Record

Concepts

  1. Differences between lithologic and temporal correlation
  2. Differences between rock, time-rock, and time units
  3. Corresponding terminology for time and time-rock units
  4. Characteristics of a good index fossil
  5. Criteria used to define a stratigraphic formation
  6. Difference between a chronologic period and time-rock system
  7. Causes for a transgression and for a regression
  8. Condition under which a regression could occur with rising sea level
  9. Methods for and problems with early estimates of the age of the Earth
  10. Difference between relative and absolute dating
  11. Development and recognition of unconformities
  12. General terms used to subdivide geologic time
  13. Names, relative order, and chronologic dates for the eons in Earth history
  14. Names, relative order, and chronologic dates for the eras of the Phanerozoic Eon
  15. Names and relative order for geologic time periods of the Phanerozoic Era in North America and for other continents
  16. Basic method for radiometric dating
  17. Explain how radiocarbon dating works
  18. Examples of isotopic pairs used for dating young, old, and very old earth materials
  19. Use of bracketing used to determine the age of earth materials
  20. Differences in the accuracy of radiometric and fossil dating
  21. Use of event stratigraphy

Terms

angular unconformity

biostratigraphic zone

chronostratigraphic unit

correlation

disconformity

eustatic change

facies

fission track dating

fission track dating

half-life

index fossil

isotopic stratigraphy

key bed

lithofacies

lithostratigraphic unit

magnetic stratigraphy

mass spectrometer

nonconformity

parent and daughter isotopes

radioactive decay

radiometric dating

seismic stratigraphy

sequence

stratigraphic section

type section

Scientific contributions made by:

Georges CuvierLord KelvinWilliam Smith

Chapter 7 – Evolution and the Fossil Record

  1. Evidence for biological evolution
  2. Viable reproduction
  3. Relationship between DNA, genes, chromosomes, traits, and biological evolution
  4. Descent with modification
  5. The relationship between mutations and biological evolution
  6. Causes for mutations
  7. Sources of variation in a gene pool
  8. Development of a new species
  9. Concept and mechanisms of natural selection
  10. Past and present evidence for mass extinctions
  11. Overall trends in evolution
  12. Types and examples of patterns in evolution
  13. Graduated versus punctuated evolution
  14. Use of a molecular clock in understanding evolution
  15. Nature of the Quaternary mass extinction

Terms

adaptive radiation

chromosome

common ancestor

convergent evolution

Cope’s Rule

deoxyribonucleic acid

Dollo’s Law

gene

gene pool

homologous structure

iterative radiation

mutation

ontogeny

phylogeny

pseudoextinction

sexual recombination

trait

vestigial organ

Scientific contributions made by:
Charles DarwinGregor MendelJames Watson and Francis Crick

Chapter 8 – The Theory of Plate Tectonics

  1. Thickness and composition of a tectonic plate
  2. Number of major tectonic plates
  3. Evidence for continental drift
  4. Process of sea floor spreading and evidence that it is taking place
  5. Apparent polar wandering curves and their relation to continental drift
  6. Differences in the three types of tectonic plate margins
  7. Three basic types of geologic faults and differences in their motion
  8. Origin and development of magnetic “stripes” on the seafloor
  9. Describe the Wilson Cycle.
  10. Evidence for subduction
  11. Differences between oceanic and continental crust
  12. Formation of forearc and foreland basins
  13. Development of and location of mélange
  14. Primary and less significant causes for the motion of tectonic plates
  15. Fate of tectonic plates after subduction
  16. Origin and location of mantle hot spots

Terms

accretionary wedge

backarc

declination

forearc

forearc basin

Global Positioning System

Glossopteris

Gondwanaland

graben

guyot

hot spot

inclination

island arc

Laurasia

lithosphere

mélange

Mesosaurus

ophiolite

Pangaea

strike-slip fault

thrust fault

transform fault

Wilson cycle

Scientific contributions made by:

Alfred Wegener Alexander Du ToitHarry HessJ. Tuzo Wilson

Chapter 9 – Continental Tectonics and Mountain Chains

  1. Differences between an active and passive continental margin
  2. Process of continent-continent collision
  3. Location and cause for failed rift arms
  4. Features associated with continental rifts
  5. Folds related to compression
  6. Process by which overturned folds and thrust faults develop.
  7. Location and development of a foreland basin
  8. Formation and location of clastic wedges
  9. Differences and location of flysch and mollasse
  10. Origin and composition of ophiolite sequences
  11. Cause and location for reversal of the direction of subduction
  12. Relationship between the angle and rate of subduction
  13. Mountain building by rifting
  14. Location and development of structural domes and basins
  15. Relationship between isostatic uplift and mountain building

Terms

anticline

basin

clastic wedge

dome

exotic terrane

fold and thrust belt

foreland basin

isostasy

molasse

ophiolite

orogeny

paired metamorphic belt

rifting

suturing

syncline

tectonic suture

terraneflysch

triple junction