Chapter 8 and Chapter 9
Uniformitarianism
Relative age
Law of superposition
Unconformity
Law of crosscutting relationships
Absolute age
Varve
Radiometric dating
Half-life
Fossil
Paleontology
Trace fossil
Index fossil
Geologic column
Era
Period
Epoch
Evolution
Precambrian time
Paleozoic era
Mass extinction
Mesozoic era
Cenozoic era
8. State the principle of uniformitariansim. Explain how the law of superposition can be used to
determine the relative age of rocks. Compare three types of unconformities. Apply the law of
crosscutting relationships to determine the relative age of rocks (show and explain examples.)
Summarize the limitations of using the rates of erosion and deposition to determine the absolute age
of rock formations. Explain how the process of radioactive decay can be used to determine the
absolute age of rocks. Describe four ways in which entire organisms can be preserved as fossils. List
five examples of fossilized traces of organisms. Describe how index fossils can be used to determine
the age of rocks.
9. Summarize how scientists worked together to develop the geologic column. List the major divisions
of geologic time. Describe the major changes to life on Earth in each period. Summarize how evolution
is related to geologic change. Identify two characteristics of Precambrian rock. Identify one major
geologic and two major biological developments during the Paleozoic era. List the periods of the
Mesozoic and “Cenozoic Eras. Identify two major geologic and biological developments during the
Mesozoic Era. . Identify two major geologic and biological developments during the Cenozoic Era.