Fossils Continued (1/31)

Question 1

Georges Cuvier

Answer 1

• Proved extinction by using comparative anatomy to show that some vertebrae animals had completely vanished
• Advocated for Catastrophism

Question 2

Catastrophism

Answer 2

The principle that events in the past occurred suddenly and by different mechanism than those occurring today; these catastrophes are separated by long periods of stability

Question 3

Georges Cuvier’s Significance of Unconformities

Answer 3

• believed that catastrophes were what explained unconformities and extinctions
• thought that life progressively moved towards its “perfect” state with each catastrophe

Question 4

Alcide d’Orbigny

Answer 4

• believed that new species were being “created” in the wake of each catastrophe (extinction event)

Question 5

3 Basic Rock Types

Answer 5

1. ) Igneous
2. ) Sedimentary
3. ) Metamorphic

Question 6

Igneous Rocks

Answer 6

made of interlocking crystals (crystalized magma)

fossils found here in sudden events with ash

Question 7

Sedimentary Rocks

Answer 7

made of sediment and created by the erosion of preexisting rocks

fossils usually found here

Question 8

Metamorphic

Answer 8

igneous or sedimentary rocks buried down then altered by heat and pressure over time

fossils found here in low grade

Question 9

James Hutton

Answer 9

Father of modern geology

Plutonism, Uniformitarianism, Unconformities, Rock Cycle, Antiquity of Earth

Question 10

Plutonism

Answer 10

Idea of Jame’s Hutton;

origin of igneous rock and mountains is molten magma forcibly intruded up in to the Earth’s crust due to subterranean heat

Question 11

Uniformitarianism

Answer 11

Idea of James Hutton;

using present processes to understand the past in recorded rocks

Question 12

Unconformities

Answer 12

Idea of James Hutton;

a surface erosion and/or non-deposition separating two rock bodies, represents missing times

Question 13

Rock Cycle

Answer 13

Idea of James Hutton;

the Earth’s change is a cyclical cycle; the formation of new rocks balanced by destruction of old rocks

Question 14

Earth’s Antiquity

Answer 14

Idea of James Hutton;

realized the temporal implications of the rock cycle

Question 15

Principle of Inclusion

Answer 15

Idea of James Hutton;

any rock represented by eroded fragments that are included in another rock MUST be older than the enclosing rock

Question 16

Cross-cutting Relations

Answer 16

Idea of James Hutton;

molten rock can intrude into older pre-existing rocks; molten rocks can enclose older pre-existing rock; relative timing (age) can be determined by these relations

Question 17

3 Types of Unconformities

Answer 17

1. ) Angular
2. ) Nonconformity
3. ) Disconformity

Question 18

Nonconformity (type of Unconformity)

Answer 18

sedimentary deposited on top of another

Question 19

Disconformity

Answer 19

flatline sediments resting on other flatline rocks and visible erosion

Question 20

Charles Lyell

Answer 20

Ultra-Uniformaitarianist, wrote the “Principles of Geology”

• believed that the present is the key to the past and that there is uniformity in nature
• believed in the power of empiricism
• idea of gradualism which was against the idea of catastrophism

Question 21

Harlen Bretz (Great Scablands Debate)

Answer 21

challenged the uniformitarianistic (Lyellian Gradualism) views of the geologic establishment with a controversial idea (Catastrophism in the 20th century)

Question 22

Modern Doctrine of Actualism

Answer 22

the only assumption that is made today is that the principles of nature have been uniform through time; modern geology is a combo of gradualism and catastrophism