geology exam #2

A strata is a succession of rock layers a stratigraphy is the study of the record of these layers.

A sedimentary facies is defined as the body of characteristics of a sediment, or rock, that are indicative of the environment of deposition at the time.

Transgressive

Depositional environments, preserved in vertically stacked strata occurring in geologic contact with one another were also at one point, laterally adjacent depositional environments. Changes in sea level lead to changes in stacking of strata.

The different rock layers (strata) in a special distance.
Marine transgression:

Ls
Sh
Ss
Fss
Css

The important characteristic to note is that the sediments become finer in the vertical sequence (bottom to top) in a transgression. This is a fining upward sequence.
Marine regression:

Cg
Css
Fss
Ss
Sh

The important characteristic to note is that the sediments become coarser in the vertical sequence (bottom to top) in a regression. This is a coarsening upward sequence.

Beds that accumulate and lithify to become mappable units (beds are layers of strata)

Formation

Depositional environment?

A sea that survives on top of the continental platform. They are caused by flooding of continental interiors caused by rift basins (when crust diverges and creates a dip).

Foreland basins are the inland portion of the backarc region at subduction zones. They form parallel to mountain belts. They result from the massive crustal thickening and the downwarping of this increased mass on the lithosphere.

Low oxygen = darker color; red/yellow/orange = high oxygen and oxidation of iron

A nonconformity represents an erosional surface separating rocks of different types. The erosional surface will separate igneous and/or metamorphic rock from overlying sedimentary rock.

An interruption in the process of depositing sedimentary layers.

Rocks that were tilted and then eroded to a flat surface prior to deposition of the younger rocks above it.

Occurs between parallel sedimentary layers

Older rocks are on the bottom younger are always on the top.

Layers of sediment initially extend outward in all directions (they're continuous)

Sediments are deposited by gravity in layers parallel to the Earth's surface.

Any geological feature that cuts across, or disrupts, another feature must be younger than the feature that is disrupted.

Any rock fragments that are included in another body of rock must be older than the rock in which they are included.

Fossil A was always found below Fossil B, which in turn was always found below Fossil C, and so on. Both the rocks that contained Fossil A had to be the same age.

Scientists that co-discovered natural selection (Darwin took credit because he was more well known and rich)

4 main principles: 1. Each generation, more organisms are born than survive. 2. Organisms vary (exactly alike but with different genetic variations) 3. Some variation is heritable. 4. Organisms that survive and reproduce often have the most favorable variations

Errors in the genetic code

Like when human breeds animals. The human chooses what traits they want and do not want, it is not left up to nature.

Function that occurred due to natural selection. (bird beaks changing)

An entity composed of organisms that maintains its identity from other such entities. Exist "through time and over space" and can only inbreed

Evolutionary process (or processes) that cause new species

New species originate when small, localized populations within an established species become geographically isolated from all of the other populations within the species due to the formation of physical barriers to gene flow. Physical barriers include the formation of mountain belts, rivers, seaways, and more.

The theory that incorporated allopatric speciation into the study of species in the fossil record

how species have evolved over time

Branching diagrams that depict the degrees of relationship among species or higher taxonomic groups (that is, they represent certain portions of the tree of life).

Evolution (Charles Darwin's own definition)

The fossil record is contained within the rock record "The data is in the strata"

Bone spaces filled with minerals

Secondary mineral replaces the orginical material shortly after death (Original calcite shell replaced by pyrite)

Minerals in the hard parts recrystalize (Aragonite to calcite)

Original hydrocarbons are broken down, carbon remains, thin black stripes

Impression of organism in sediment (External) or Internal space filled in by sediment (internal molds)

A fossil that is limited to a short time span of geologic time but widley distributed.

The range is dependent on what rock layer the fossil is in. Look at the geologic time scale

A collection of fossils in a rock

Tortotubus left carbonization evidence behind

Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus, eukaryotes have a mitochondria and bigger ribosomes, prokaryotes reproduce asexually, prokaryotes have a ridged cell wall. Prokaryotes appeared first.

An ancient fungus fossilized in gas bubbles 2.4 billion years ago