Natural Science Study Guide
Chapter 22: Geologic Time
Determining the age of the earth:
Identify the methods used for determining the age of the earth, what each method reveals, and when it is appropriate to use each of them. Including:
Principles of Uniformity, Horizontality, Superimposition and Cross cutting relationships
Erosion, Deposits and Unconformity
Radiometric dating, Carbon 14 Dating & Use of the Geomagnetic Timescale
Fossils:
Define and differentiate between Paleontology and Archaeology
Define fossils and identify/describe the different types that are commonly found.
Explain the processes related to the forming of various types of fossils (e.g. molds & casts, how Petrified fossils are formed)
Geological Time Scale:
Eons: Identify the Eons and their associated major events.
Eras: Identify the eras and their associated major events.
Periods: Identify the various periods, their relationships to each other and the Eras, and their associated major events. Key will be to identify what does/doesn’t belong in each time period.
Example 1: “What type of Organism would you NOT expect to see during the Devonian period? A) insects, B) plants growing on land, C) Jawless fishes, D) Mammals.
Example 2: During which Era did the Dinosaurs dominate the land? A) Cenozoic, B) Mesozoic, C) Paleozoic, D) Permian. (Note, why, if included would Jurassic NOT be the correct answer? Think about it…)
Video: How the Earth was Made
What evidence did the “Burgess Shale” reveal?
What effect did rising Oxygen levels have on life in the oceans and on land?
How were the coal deposits formed?
When did the largest extinction of life ( >90%) occur and what do researchers think caused it?
What emerged as the dominant species after this mass extinction?
What is the relationship between diamonds and volcanoes?
What do researchers believe killed off the dinosaurs? (hint, it’s NOT the same thing that caused the largest extinction!). What evidence is there to support this hypothesis?
Determining the age of the earth:
Identify the methods used for determining the age of the earth, what each method reveals, and when it is appropriate to use each of them. Including:
Principles of Uniformity, Horizontality, Superimposition and Cross cutting relationships
Erosion, Deposits and Unconformity
Radiometric dating, Carbon 14 Dating & Use of the Geomagnetic Timescale
Fossils:
Define and differentiate between Paleontology and Archaeology
Define fossils and identify/describe the different types that are commonly found.
Explain the processes related to the forming of various types of fossils (e.g. molds & casts, how Petrified fossils are formed)
Geological Time Scale:
Eons: Identify the Eons and their associated major events.
Eras: Identify the eras and their associated major events.
Periods: Identify the various periods, their relationships to each other and the Eras, and their associated major events. Key will be to identify what does/doesn’t belong in each time period.
Example 1: “What type of Organism would you NOT expect to see during the Devonian period? A) insects, B) plants growing on land, C) Jawless fishes, D) Mammals.
Example 2: During which Era did the Dinosaurs dominate the land? A) Cenozoic, B) Mesozoic, C) Paleozoic, D) Permian. (Note, why, if included would Jurassic NOT be the correct answer? Think about it…)
Video: How the Earth was Made
What evidence did the “Burgess Shale” reveal?
What effect did rising Oxygen levels have on life in the oceans and on land?
How were the coal deposits formed?
When did the largest extinction of life ( >90%) occur and what do researchers think caused it?
What emerged as the dominant species after this mass extinction?
What is the relationship between diamonds and volcanoes?
What do researchers believe killed off the dinosaurs? (hint, it’s NOT the same thing that caused the largest extinction!). What evidence is there to support this hypothesis?