EAPS 112 - Ch 5 Exam Questions &
Answers 2023/2024
Stratigraphy is primarily the study of sedimentary rocks - ANSWER-False
Relative dating principles like superposition are rarely applied by stratigraphers, as they rely mostly on
numerical dates. - ANSWER-False
All unconformities are created during periods of erosion and/or non-deposition - ANSWER-True
Unconformities can only develop between layers of sedimentary rock - ANSWER-False
Walther's law states that facies seen in a conformable vertical sequence will also replace one another
laterally - ANSWER-True
Marine transgression and regressions are events where sea levels change due to tectonic and climatic
events - ANSWER-True
Range zones indicate the total time a species existed in the geologic record - ANSWER-True
Dinosaur bones would be bodily fossils, and dinosaur tracks would be trace fossils - ANSWER-True
Soft-bodied organisms are less well represented in the fossil record because they were less common in
ancient geologic history. - ANSWER-False
William Smith's principle of fossil succession states that fossil assemblages succeed one another through
time in regular and determinable order. - ANSWER-False - predictable, not determinable order
Systems of rock units were established on the basis of superposition and fossil content. - ANSWER-True
, Rocks in a formation can belong to multiple lithostratigraphic units. - ANSWER-False
The strongest evidence that rocks are time correlated is derived from lithological similarities. - ANSWER-
False
Guide fossils are confined to a narrow range of time. - ANSWER-True
Lava flows and ash falls interbedded with sedimentary rocks are most useful for determining numerical
ages. - ANSWER-False
Which piece of evidence would best illustrate that rocks in widely separated areas were deposited at the
same time?
a. identical position in the geologic column
b. inclusion in the same formation
c. identical rock types
d. species-identical fossil assemblages
e. similar sediment compositions - ANSWER-d. species-identical fossil assemblages
________ are least likely to be preserved in the fossil record because ________ .
a. Clams; they are very scarce
b. Corals; they frequently undergo mineral replacement
c. Jellyfish; they consist mainly of soft parts
d. Horse teeth; horses live in areas not conducive to fossilization
e. Brachiopods; they frequently undergo mineral replacement - ANSWER-C. Jellyfish, they consist mainly
of soft parts
The most common way to numerically date a sedimentary rock is to ________ .
a. numerically date the sedimentary rock
b. rely on superposition
c. numerically date a fossil in the rock
Answers 2023/2024
Stratigraphy is primarily the study of sedimentary rocks - ANSWER-False
Relative dating principles like superposition are rarely applied by stratigraphers, as they rely mostly on
numerical dates. - ANSWER-False
All unconformities are created during periods of erosion and/or non-deposition - ANSWER-True
Unconformities can only develop between layers of sedimentary rock - ANSWER-False
Walther's law states that facies seen in a conformable vertical sequence will also replace one another
laterally - ANSWER-True
Marine transgression and regressions are events where sea levels change due to tectonic and climatic
events - ANSWER-True
Range zones indicate the total time a species existed in the geologic record - ANSWER-True
Dinosaur bones would be bodily fossils, and dinosaur tracks would be trace fossils - ANSWER-True
Soft-bodied organisms are less well represented in the fossil record because they were less common in
ancient geologic history. - ANSWER-False
William Smith's principle of fossil succession states that fossil assemblages succeed one another through
time in regular and determinable order. - ANSWER-False - predictable, not determinable order
Systems of rock units were established on the basis of superposition and fossil content. - ANSWER-True
, Rocks in a formation can belong to multiple lithostratigraphic units. - ANSWER-False
The strongest evidence that rocks are time correlated is derived from lithological similarities. - ANSWER-
False
Guide fossils are confined to a narrow range of time. - ANSWER-True
Lava flows and ash falls interbedded with sedimentary rocks are most useful for determining numerical
ages. - ANSWER-False
Which piece of evidence would best illustrate that rocks in widely separated areas were deposited at the
same time?
a. identical position in the geologic column
b. inclusion in the same formation
c. identical rock types
d. species-identical fossil assemblages
e. similar sediment compositions - ANSWER-d. species-identical fossil assemblages
________ are least likely to be preserved in the fossil record because ________ .
a. Clams; they are very scarce
b. Corals; they frequently undergo mineral replacement
c. Jellyfish; they consist mainly of soft parts
d. Horse teeth; horses live in areas not conducive to fossilization
e. Brachiopods; they frequently undergo mineral replacement - ANSWER-C. Jellyfish, they consist mainly
of soft parts
The most common way to numerically date a sedimentary rock is to ________ .
a. numerically date the sedimentary rock
b. rely on superposition
c. numerically date a fossil in the rock
