Freeman-Lynde GLY116 Paleozoic Tectonics Questions

The Late Proterozoic-Paleozoic Wilson Cycle changed from dispersion to convergence in the Carboniferous.
The Late Proterozoic-Paleozoic Wilson Cycle changed from dispersion to convergence in the Early Cambrian.
Which of the following occurred in the Paleozoic?
A. formation of Pangea II B. development of land-dwelling multicellular plants & animals C. formation of the Appalachian, Caledonian & Hercynian Orogenies D. all of these E. none of these A. formation of Pangea I D. all of these B. development of multicellular animals E. none of these C. formation of the Alpine Orogeny

There were 6 major continents during the early Paleozoic, of which 4 (Baltica, Kazakhstania, Siberia & China) are now part of Eurasia.
Of the 6 major continents during the early Paleozoic, 4 (Baltica, Kazakhstania, Siberia & China) are now part of Eurasia.
The largest continent during the Early Paleozoic was Laurentia.
The largest continent during the Early Paleozoic was Eurasia.
Which was part of Gondwana during the Paleozoic?
A. Florida B. Ohio C. Norway D. all of these E. none of these D. Siberia
Florida was part of ________________ during the Paleozoic Era.
A. Siberia B. Baltica C. Laurentia D. Gondwana E. China
Give the name of an Early Paleozoic continent - _______________________.
Give the name of a Paleozoic continent - ______________________.
There were 6 major continents during the early Paleozoic. Give the name of one (1) of the four (4) that are now part of the modern continent of Eurasia - ________________________.
Matching: Match the continents in the column on the left with the continents in the column on the right. Each column contains a mix of continents from the present and from the Early Paleozoic. Each item on the right may be used more than once.
- North America A. Gondwana
- Baltica B. Laurentia
- Antarctica C. Asia
- Siberia D. Europe
- Australia E. Kazakstania
Matching: Match the modern continents or parts of continents in the column on the left with their equivalent Paleozoic continent in the columns on the right and enter your choice on the computer answer sheet. Each item on the right will be used only once, but not all of the items on the right will be used.
- Northeast Asia A. Baltica D. Laurentia
- Northern Europe & Russia B. China E. Siberia
- South America C. Gondwana
Matching: Match the present continents in the column on the left with their equivalent Paleozoic continents in the column on the right. Each item on the right may be used more than once.
- Europe A. Gondwana
- Antarctica B. Laurentia
- North America C. Asia
- South America D. Baltica
- Australia E. Kazakstania
Matching: Match the modern continents or parts of continents in the column on the left with the Paleozoic continents or parts of continents in the column on the right. Each item on the right may be used more than once.
- North America A. Siberia
- Europe B. Gondwana
- Central Asia C. Laurentia
- Florida D. Kazakhstania
- Africa E. Baltica
Matching: Match the modern parts of continents in the left column with the equivalent Paleozoic continent in right columns. Each item on the right will be used only once, & not all of the items on the right will be used.
- Southeast Asia A. Baltica D. Kazakhstania
- Central Asia B. China E. Laurentia
- Florida C. Gondwana F. Siberia

North America lay along the equator in Cambrian time.
North America lay along the equator in Ordovician time.
The assembly of Pangea II occupies much of Paleozoic time, particularly Late Paleozoic time.
Early Paleozoic continental glaciation began when Laurentia moved over the South Pole.
Early Paleozoic continental glaciation began when Baltica moved over the South Pole.
The first continental glaciation during the Phanerozoic is recorded by Ordovician-age tillites in the Sahara Desert.
The first continental glaciation during the Phanerozoic is recorded by Ordovician-age limestones in Vermont.
During the Paleozoic, continental glaciers formed on Laurentia & Baltica.
The Earth's climate during the Late Carboniferous & Permian was cool & dry.
The Pangea of Wegener was formed essentially by the Permian (250 my ago).
How was North America (Laurentia) situated during the Early Paleozoic?
- A. rotated counterclockwise 90° from present at the South Pole
- B. rotated counterclockwise 90° from present at the North Pole
- C. rotated clockwise 90° from present at the Equator
- D. in the same position as today
- E. we don't know how North America was situated during the Early Paleozoic
- E. none of these
North America was rotated clockwise 90 degrees from present at the Equator during the ________.
A. Early Paleozoic B. Late Paleozoic C. Mesozoic D. Cenozoic E. none of these
Why was the climate very warm during the Cambrian?
A. There was a lot of volcanic activity. B. There were no continents at the poles. C. Sea level was extremely low D. The climate was not very warm during the Cambrian.
Extensive shallow-marine limestones were deposited on the North American craton during the Cambrian because:
A. there was a lot of volcanic activity. D. there were several continents at the poles. B. eustatic sea level was extremely low. E. the climate was not very warm during the Cambrian. C. North America was located along the equator.
When did the Late Proterozoic-Paleozoic Wilson Cycle change from dispersion to convergence?
A. Late Cambrian (550 my) B. Middle Ordovician (475 my) C. Middle Silurian (435 my) D. Devonian (~400 my) E. Late Carboniferous [Pennsylvanian](~300 my)
When did the Wilson Cycle culminating in the formation of Pangea II BEGIN?
A. Mesozoic B. Late Proterozoic C. Early Paleozoic D. Late Paleozoic E. none of these
When did the Late Proterozoic-Paleozoic Wilson Cycle change from dispersion to convergence?
A. Early Cambrian time B. Middle Silurian time C. Late Devonian time D. Late Carboniferous time E. none of these
Give the name of the Paleozoic continent affected by Paleozoic glaciation - _____________.
_______________ was the Paleozoic continent affected by glaciation.
The Late Proterozoic-Paleozoic __________________ changed from dispersion to convergence during Middle Ordovician time.

Phanerozoic mobile belts initially form as convergent (tectonically-active) continental margins at plate boundaries.
Mobile belts always occur within continental interiors & have thin sequences of sediments.
Mobile belts typically contain thin (<5 km) sequences of sediments.
Basins developed at the margins of cratons contain the thickest (10-15 km) sediments at the Earth's surface.
Basins developed in the interior of cratons contain the thickest (10-15 km) sediments at the Earth's surface.
In the diagram below, thick (10 to 15 km) Phanerozoic-age sediments occur in the interior lowlands.
In the diagram below, the Ellesmere Mountain Belt & the mobile belts indicated by patterns #2 & #3 initially formed as passive (tectonically-inactive) continental margins within a plate interior.
Which statement below concerning Phanerozoic mobile belts is true?
A. Mobile belts generally occur at the periphery of a continent. D. all of these B. Mobile belts generally contain thin (<5km) of flat-lying sediments. E. none of these C. Mobile belts are gently warped in basins & domes.
A _________________ is the ancient geologically-stable central nucleus of a continent.
1. & 2. In the diagram of North America below, fill in the blanks with continental framework terms. (#1 is the ancient geologically-stable nucleus of a continent, & #2 is an elongate zone of intense deformation & igneous activity).
In the diagram below, the Cordilleran Mountain Belt is represented by pattern #2 / #3 (circle one).

The sediments comprising the Sauk & Tippecanoe cratonic sequences of North America are oldest at the center of the craton.
The sediments comprising the Sauk & Tippecanoe cratonic sequences of North America are oldest at the margins of the craton.
The sediments comprising the Sauk cratonic sedimentary sequence of North America are oldest at the center of the craton.
Sedimentary depositional sequences usually have a basal transgressive sandstone.
Sedimentary depositional sequences usually are thickest & most complete (shortest unconformities) in the craton interior and are thinnest & most incomplete (longest unconformities) at the craton margin.
Sedimentary depositional sequences are thickest & most complete (shortest unconformities) at the craton margin.
Sedimentary depositional sequences are thinnest & most incomplete (longest unconformities) in the craton interior.
Sedimentary depositional sequences usually have chemical rocks (limestone, dolostone, evaporites) at their tops.
Sedimentary depositional sequences usually begin with a transgressive sandstone at their bases.
Sedimentary depositional sequences usually begin with a transgressive limestone at their bases.
The Saint Peter & Tapeats Sandstones (the basal transgressive sandstones of the Tippecanoe & Sauk Depositional Sequences of North America) are the same age everywhere they occur.
The transgressive Cambrian sedimentary sequence exposed in the Grand Canyon (Tapeats Sandstone overlain by Bright Angel Shale overlain by Muav Limestone) is very unusual & does not occur anywhere else in North America.
Phanerozoic-age sedimentary depositional sequences generally _______ toward the center of the craton.
A. become older B. become thicker C. have fewer unconformities D. all of these E. none of these
Phanerozoic-age sedimentary depositional sequences generally have _________ at their bases.
A. transgressive sandstones B. transgressive shales C. transgressive limestones D. transgressive dolostones E. transgressive evaporites
Which list of lithologies could occur in a sedimentary depositional sequence, starting at the bottom?
Starting at the bottom, which list of lithologies below might occur in a sedimentary depositional sequence found on a Phanerozoic craton?
B. sandstone, limestone A. sandstone, shale, limestone B. sandstone, dolostone C. sandstone, shale, dolostone+evaporites D. all of these E. none of these E. none of these A. shale, limestone, sandstone B. sandstone, shale, limestone C. dolostone, sands tone D. all of these E. none of these
Which of the following statements about the Tapeats Sandstone (SS) is true?
A. The Tapeats SS is the same age everywhere it occurs. D. all of these B. The Tapeats SS becomes oldest toward the center of the craton. E. none of these C. The Tapeats SS is the basal transgressive sandstone of the oldest (Sauk) sedimentary depositio nal sequence of North America. E. The Tapeats SS is a basal transgressive sandstone.

The Blue Ridge Province of the southeastern United States was an island arc similar to modern Japan during the Early Paleozoic.
The Piedmont Province of the southeastern United States was an island arc similar to modern Japan during the Early Paleozoic.
The Piedmont Province of the southeastern United States developed as an island arc far from North America during the Late Proterozoic.
Middle Ordovician collision of the Piedmont island arc with Laurentia resulted in the Acadian-Caledonian Orogeny.
Middle Ordovician collision of the Piedmont island arc with Laurentia resulted in the Alleghenian-Hercynian-Ouachita Orogeny.
Carboniferous collision of Gondwana with Laurussia resulted in the Taconic Orogeny.
Carboniferous collision of Gondwana with Laurussia resulted in the Acadian-Caledonian Orogeny.
The Acadian & Hercynian Orogenies are actually the same mountain-building event.
The Taconic & Hercynian Orogenies are actually the same mountain-building event.
The Carboniferous/Permian mountain belt resulting from collision of Laurussia & Gondwana is called the Alleghenian-Hercynian Orogen in North America & Europe.
The Carboniferous-Permian collision of Laurussia & Gondwana resulted in the Alleghanian-Ouachita-Hercynian Orogen of North America & Europe.
The Antler Orogeny of the Cordilleran Mobile Belt resulted from Devonian collision of western Laurentia with an island arc (Klamath Mountains).
The first fossil evidence of widespread land plants & animals is in the non-marine redbed sediments of the Catskill Clastic Wedge/Old Red Sandstone.
The Catskill/Old Red Sandstone Clastic Wedge (the result of the Acadian-Caledonian Orogeny) contains abundant coal.
The vast COAL deposits of the Appalachian Basin & the New Red Sandstone often occur in distinct sedimentary sequences called cyclothems.
Vast coal deposits often occurring in distinct sedimentary sequences called cyclothems are found in the sediments of the Queenston Clastic Wedge associated with the Taconic Orogeny.
Vast coal deposits are found in the sediments of the Queenston Clastic Wedge associated with the Early Paleozoic Taconic Orogeny.
The Appalachian Basin Clastic Wedge (the result of the Alleghenian-Hercynian-Ouachita Orogeny) contains abundant coal.
Cyclothems in the Appalachian Basin/New Red Sandstone Clastic Wedge result from delta lobe switching & to Pennsylvanian glacial cycles.
Cyclothems in the Appalachian Basin/New Red Sandstone Clastic Wedge (the result of the Alleghenian-Hercynian-Ouachita Orogeny) result from delta lobe switching & to Pennsylvanian glacial cycles.
The Paleozoic evolutionary history of land plants & animals is recorded by fossils occurring mostly in the non-marine redbed sediments of the various clastic wedges associated with Paleozoic mobile belts.
Which of the following statements about the Piedmont of Georgia is true?
- A. The Piedmont formed as an island arc far from Laurentia. D. all of these
- B. The Piedmont formed during the Late Proterozoic. E. none of these
- C. The Piedmont collided with Laurentia to cause the Taconic Orogeny.
What is the cause of the Middle Ordovician Taconic Orogeny?
- A. Rifting of the Late Proterozoic Pangea I into several smaller continents.
- B. Development of an Andean type continental margin on the west coast of North America.
- C. Collision of Laurentia with Gondwana.
- D. Collision of Laurentia with an island arc now preserved as the Piedmont.
- E. none of these.
Which clastic wedge is associated with the Taconic Orogeny?
A. Catskill "delta" B. Queenston "delta" C. Appalachian basin D. Old Red Sandstone E. none of these
Which clastic wedge is associated with the Acadian Orogeny?
Which clastic wedge was shed onto the North American craton during the Devonian as a result of the Acadian Orogeny?
A. Queenston "delta" B. Catskill "delta" C. Appalachian basin D. Old Red Sandstone E. none of these
Widespread Late Devonian-Early Mississippian black shales, like the Chattanooga Shale, were deposited at the same time as the ____________.
A. Appalachian Basin/New Red Sandstone C. Queenston Clastic Wedge B. Catskill Clastic Wedge/Old Red Sandstone D. all of these E. none of these
The ____________________ clastic wedge was shed onto the North American craton during the Devonian as a result of the Acadian Orogeny.
A. Appalachian Basin B. Catskill C. New Red Sandstone D. Old Red Sandstone E. Queenston
Cyclothems are found in clastic wedge strata deposited during the _________________ Period(s).
A. Cambrian B. Ordovician C. Silurian-Devonian D. Carboniferous-Permian E. all of these
Which of the following statements about the Cordilleran Mobile Belt is true?
- A. The Antler Orogeny resulted from Devonian collision of Laurentia with Baltica to form Laurussia.
- B. The Catskill clastic wedge is associated with the Antler Orogeny.
- C. The western margin of Laurentia developed as a passive continental margin as a result of Late Proterozoic rifting.
- A. The Antler Orogeny resulted from Devonian collision of western Laurentia with an island arc (Klamath Mountains).
- C. No clastic wedges are associated with the Antler Orogeny. D. all of these E. none of these
The Middle _________________________ (period) collision of eastern Laurentia with an island arc resulted in the Taconic Orogeny.
Give the name of a clastic wedge associated with a Paleozoic orogeny affecting eastern Laurentia or Baltica - ______________________.
The clastic wedge associated with the Caledonian Orogeny is the _________________.
The clastic wedge associated with the Alleghenian Orogeny is the ________________.
The clastic wedge associated with the Devonian Acadian Orogeny of Laurentia is the ___________.
The clastic wedge associated with the Hercynian Orogeny is the _________________.
Abundant coal associated with the Appalachian Basin/New Red Sandstone occurs in repeated distinct sedimentary sequences of non-marine & marine strata called __________________.
Matching: Match the Paleozoic orogenies on the left with the statement on the right that describes that orogeny. Items on the right will be used only once.
- Hercynian A. Carboniferous/Permian collision of Laurussia with Gondwana
- Caledonian B. Devonian collision of eastern Laurentia with Baltica to form Laurussia
- Antler C. Devonian-Carboniferous collision of western Laurentia with an island arc
- Alleghenian D. Middle Ordovician collision of eastern Laurentia with an island arc
- Acadian E. Late Proterozoic collision of Laurentia with an island arc
- Taconic F. Permian collision of Kazakhstania with Siberia
- F. Permian collision of Siberia with Laurussia
Matching: Match the collisions listed on the left with the Paleozoic orogenies listed on the right. Each item on the right will be used only once.
- Ordovician collision of Laurentia with an island arc A. Acadian
- Devonian-Carboniferous collision of Laurentia with an island arc B. Taconic
- Devonian collision with Laurentia C. Antler
- Carboniferous-Permian collision of Laurussia with Gondwana D. Alleghenian
- Devonian collision with Baltica E. Caledonian
Matching: Match the descriptions of the Paleozoic orogenies in the column on the left with the appropriate orogeny in the column on the right & enter your choice on the computer answer sheet. Three item on the right will be used once, and one wil l not be used at all.
- Devonian collision of western Laurentia with an island arc A. Taconic
- Carboniferous-Permian collision of Laurussia with Gondwana B. Acadian-Caledonian
- Middle Ordovician collision of eastern Laurentia with an island C. Alleghenian-Ouachita-Hercynian
- arc D. Antler
Matching: Match the descriptions of Paleozoic orogenies affecting eastern North America on the left with the appropriate orogeny in the column on the right and enter your choice on the computer answer sheet. Each item on the right will be used only o nce, but not all of the items on the right will be used.
- Carboniferous/Permian collision of Laurussia with Gondwana A. Acadian-Caledonian
- Devonian collision of eastern Laurentia with Baltica to form Laurussia B. Antler
- Middle Ordovician collision of eastern Laurentia with an island arc C. Grenville-Llano
- D. Taconic
- E. Ouachita-Alleghenian-Hercynian
Matching: Match the Paleozoic and Mesozoic orogenies listed on the left with the events listed on the right. Each item on the right will be used only once.
- Acadian/Caledonian A. Devonian-Carboniferous collision of Laurussia with an island arc
- Nevadan B. Carboniferous-Permian collision of Laurussia with Gondwana
- Antler C. Devonian collision of Laurentia with Baltica to form Laurussia
- Alleghenian/Hercynian D. Permian-Triassic collision of northwest Pangea II with an island arc
- Sonoma E. Triassic-Cretaceous subduction of Pacific oceanic lithosphere along an Andean type system off western Laurasia
Matching: Match the Paleozoic clastic wedges in the left column with the equivalent Paleozoic Orogeny in the right column. Each item on the right will be used only once.
- Appalachian Basin/New Red Sandstone A. Taconic
- Catskill Clastic Wedge/Old Red Sandstone B. Alleghanian/Ouachita/Hercynian
- Queenston Clastic Wedge C. Acadian/Caledonian
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