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 Cuvier
Lord Kelvin
William 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
Dollo’s Law
gene
gene pool
homologous structure
iterative radiation
mutation
adaptive radiation
chromosome
common ancestor
convergent evolution
Cope’s Rule
deoxyribonucleic acid
ontogeny
phylogeny
pseudoextinction
sexual recombination
trait
vestigial organ
Scientific contributions made by:
Charles Darwin
Gregor Mendel
James 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
Scientific contributions made by:
Alfred Wegener
Alexander Du Toit
mélange
Mesosaurus
ophiolite
Pangaea
strike-slip fault
thrust fault
transform fault
Wilson cycle
Harry Hess
J. 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
terrane flysch
triple junction