1

• Physical geology is concerned with changes in the distribution of the land & sea.
• Physical Geology is concerned with the materials & processes occurring on the Earth.
• Historical geology is concerned with chemical changes in minerals caused by weathering.
• Development of the Relative Geologic Time Scale depended on discovery of radioactivity & application of radiometric techniques.
• Development of the Absolute Geologic Time Scale depended on discovery of radioactivity & application of radiometric techniques.
• The Absolute Geologic Time Scale was developed during the 1820's & 1830's based on several basic geologic principles (including superposition, original horizontality & lateral continuity, cross-cutting relationships, unconformities, inclusions & fossil succession), well before the discovery of radioactivity.
• The relative geologic time scale was developed mostly in the early 1800's (1822-1841) from rocks exposed in Europe.
• Lord Kelvin attempted to calculate the absolute age of the Earth based on the length of time it would take for an originally molten Earth to cool to its present temperature.
• George Buffon & Lord Kelvin both attempted to calculate the absolute age of the Earth based on the length of time it would take for an originally molten Earth to cool to its present temperature.
• Lord Kelvin calculated a significantly younger age for the Earth (20 - 100 million years) than geologists thought necessary (1 billion years) because he neglected to take heat generated by __________________ into account.

2 Leonardo da Vinci developed the Principle of Biologic (or Faunal) Succession.

3

• The Principle of Superposition states that sediment is originally deposited in nearly horizontal layers.
• "The present is the key to the past" is another way of stating the Principle of Biological Succession.
• "The present is the key to the past" is another way of stating the Principle of Superposition.
• The Principle of ________________ states "A geologic feature that cuts across or penetrates another body of rock must be younger than the rock mass cut or penetrated.""In any sequence of undisturbed strata, the oldest layer is at the bottom, & successively higher layers are successively younger."

  A. Superposition B. Original Horizontality C. Original Lateral Continuity D. Biologic Succession E. Cross-Cutting Relations

• The Principle of ________________ can be summarized as "The oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest layer is at the top.
• The Principle of ________________ states that "In any sequence of undisturbed strata, the oldest layer is at the bottom, & successively higher layers are successively younger."
• The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships states that an igneous intrusion or fault is ______________ than the rock that is intruded or cut.
• The Principle of _______________ can be summarized as "the present is the key to the past."

4

• Nicolaus Steno is noted for the development of the concept of Neptunism.
• Nicolaus Steno is noted for the development of the concept of Plutonism.
• Nicolaus Steno is known as the founder of Catastrophism.
• Nicholas Steno is credited with clearly setting forth the Principle of _______________.

  A. Original Lateral Continuity B. Superposition C. Original Horizontality D. A., B. & C. E. none of these

• ______________ is noted for the development of the Principle of Superposition, the Principle of Original Horizontality, & the Principle of Original Lateral Continuity.

5

• The Neptunists believed that all rocks precipitated from a global ocean.
• PLUTONISM was founded by Abraham Werner.
• Abraham Gottlob Werner:

  A. believed igneous rocks originated from molten material from the Earth's interior. B. believed basalt was volcanic in origin. C. is noted for the development of the concept of Neptunism. C. is noted for the development of the concept of Catastrophism. D. both A. & B. D. all of these. E. none of these.

6

• James Hutton was a prominent Plutonist.
• James Hutton was a prominent Neptunist.
• James Hutton is noted as the principal Uniformitarianist in the debate with the Catastrophists.
• ____________________ is noted as the "Father of Modern Historical Geology" because he developed the concepts of uniformitarianism, the geologic cycle & geologic time.

  A. James Hutton B. George Cuvier C. Charles Lyell D. Nicolaus Steno E. Abraham Werner

• __________________ is noted for the development of Uniformitarianism & the concept of the geologic cycle, clearly envisioning the immensity of geologic time, and as founder of the school of Plutonism.
• ________________ is noted as the "Father of Modern Historical Geology" because he developed the concepts of uniformitarianism, the geologic cycle & geologic time.

7

• George Cuvier is noted for the development of the concept of Catastrophism.
• George Cuvier is noted as the founder of CATASTROPHISM.
• George Cuvier & William Smith co-developed the Principle of Fossil Succession.
• George Cuvier & William Smith co-developed the Principle of Neptunism.
• William "Strata" Smith was the greatest English advocate & interpreter of Uniformitarianism.
• William "Strata" Smith developed the Principle of Biologic (or Faunal) Succession.
• Who developed the principle of FOSSIL SUCCESSION?

  A. Nicolaus Steno B. Abraham Werner C. George Cuvier D. William Smith E. None of these

• Which person(s) listed below is noted for development of the Principle of Fossil Succession?

  A. William Smith B. George Cuvier C. James Hutton D. Nicolaus Steno E. both A. & B.

• William Smith & George Cuvier are noted for co-developmentof the Principle of ______________.

  A. Catastrophism B. Fossil Succession C. Uniformitarianism D.Plutonism E. both A. & B.

• George Cuvier is noted for the development of the concept of _______________.

  A. Plutonism B. Neptunism C. Catastrophism D. both A. & B. E. none of these

8

• Charles Lyell was the greatest English advocate & interpreter of Uniformitarianism.
• Charles Lyell is noted for the development of the concept of Catastrophism.
• James Hutton & Charles Lyell probably would have great difficulty accepting the idea that dinosaurs became extinct because the Earth was struck by a large meteorite at the end of the Cretaceous.
• James Hutton & Charles Lyell probably would have no difficulty accepting the idea that dinosaurs became extinct because the Earth was struck by a large meteorite at the end of the Cretaceous.
• Charles Lyell would have had absolutely no problem accepting the modern idea that the dinosaurs might have been wiped out by a comet hitting the Earth at the end of the Cretaceous.
• Charles Lyell is credited with clearly setting forth the Principle of _______________.

  A. Superposition B. Original Horizontality C. Original Lateral Continuity D. Biologic Succession E. Cross-Cutting Relations E. none of these

• The Principles of Cross-Cutting Relations & Included Particles were clearly set forth by _______________.

  A. Charles Lyell B. James Hutton C. Abraham Werner D. Nicolaus Steno E. George Cuvier

9

• Short-term, catastrophic events like hurricanes, floods & earthquakes are inconsistent with the principle of uniformitarianism.
• Short-term, catastrophic events like hurricanes, floods & earthquakes are consistent with the principle of uniformitarianism.
• Geologists today hold exactly the same view of Uniformitarianism as Hutton & Lyell.
• The founder of Uniformitarianism was __________________________.

  A. William Smith B. James Hutton C. Abraham Werner D. Nicolaus Steno E. George Cuvier

• Who developed the principle of UNIFORMITARIANISM?

  A. Nicolaus Steno B. Abraham Werner C. George Cuvier D. William Smith E. None of these

• The Principle of _____________________ can be summarized as "The present is the key to the past."

  A. Original Horizontality B. Uniformitarianism C. Biologic Succession D. Cross-Cutting Relations E. Superposition

• Which of the following statements is true concerning the Principle of Uniformitarianism?

  A. James Hutton developed the principle & Charles Lyell was the principal advocate of the principle in the debate with the Catastrophists. B. Geologists today hold exactly the same view of Uniformitarianism as Hutton & Lyell. C. Uniformitarianism holds that the rates & types of geological processes operating in the present operated in the past. D. all of these E. both A. & B.

• The Principle of _______________________ can be summarized as "the present is the key to the past."

10

• Which person listed below is noted for his enunciation of the principle in Question 1?

  A. William Smith B. Charles Lyell C. James Hutton D. Nicolaus Steno E. none of these

• Which person listed below is noted as the principle advocate ofthe principle in Question 3?

  A. George Cuvier B. Abraham Werner C. Nicolaus Steno D. William Smith E. Charles Lyell

• Which person listed below is noted for the development of theprinciple in Question 3?

  A. James Hutton B. George Cuvier C. Abraham Werner D. Nicolaus Steno E. William Smith

• Matching: Match the geologic principle or concept listed on the left with the description that pertains to that principle or concept on the right & enter it on the computer answer sheet. Each item on the right will be used only once. Two items on the right won't be used, & the other three items will be used only once.
  • Original Lateral Continuity A. sediment is originally deposited in nearly horizontal layers
  • Cross-Cutting Relationships B. rock fragments included within a rock mass are older than the enclosing rock mass
  • Original Horizontality C. igneous intrusions or faults are younger than the rock intruded or cut
  • Inclusions D. the oldest layer is at the bottom in undisturbed strata
  • Superposition E. as originally deposited, strata extend continuously to the edge of the depositional basin
• Matching: Match the principle or concept on the left with the person on the right who developed the principle or concept, or who persuasively argued in favor of the principle or concept. An item on the right will be used only once, although not all items on the right will be used.
  • ____1 Unconformities A. George Cuvier D. William Smith G. Both A. & D.
  • ____2 Superposition B. James Hutton E. Nicolaus Steno H. Both B. & C.
  • ____3 Fossil Succession C. Charles Lyell F. Abraham Werner
  Matching: Match the names on the left with the principle or concept on the right most closely associated with that principle or concept. Each item on the right will be used only once.
  • Nicolaus Steno A. Concept of Neptunism
  • James Hutton B. Concept of Catastrophism
  • William Smith C. Principle of Original Lateral Continuity
  • George Cuvier D. Principle of Fossil Succession
  • Abraham Werner E. Principle of Uniformitarianism

11

• Matching: Match the principle or concept on the left with the person on the right most closely associated with that principle or concept. Each person on the right will be used only once and 2.persons will not be used at all.
  • 58. Neptunism A. George Curvier B. James Hutton
  • 59. Catastrophism C. William Smith D. Nicolaus Steno
  • 60. Superposition E. Abraham Werner
• Matching: Match the principle or concept on the left with the person on the right most closely associated with that principle or concept. Each item on the right may be used more than once, and not all items on the right will be used.
  • Catastrophism A. Leonardo da Vinci F. George Curvier
  • Natural Selection B. Nicolaus Steno G. Lord Kelvin
  • Uniformitarianism C. Abraham Werner H. Carolus Linnaeus
  • Biologic Succession D. James Hutton I. Alfred Russell Wallace
  • Original Horizontality E. William Smith J. Gregor Mendel
  • Neptunism G. Charles Darwin
  • Superposition H. Charles Lyell
• Matching: Match the geologic principle or concept listed on the left with the person who developed or clearly enunciated that principle or concept on the right. Each item on the right may be used more than once, & not all items on the right will be used.
  • Superposition A. Giovanni Arduino K. Both E. & G.
  • Original Horizontality B. Nicolaus Steno L. Leonardo da Vinci
  • Neptunism C. Abraham Gottlob Werner M. Carolus Linnaeus
  • Catastrophism D. George Cuvier N. Alfred Russell Wallace
  • Uniformitarianism E. James Hutton O. Gregor Mendel
  • Biologic Succession F. William Smith P. Lord Kelvin
  • Cross-Cutting Relations G. Charles Lyell
  • Natural Selection H. Charles Darwin
  • Punctuated Equilibrium I. Gould & Eldridge
  • Seafloor Spreading J. Harry Hess
• Matching: Match the principle or concept on the left with the person on the right who developed the principle or concept, or who persuasively argued in favor of the principle or concept. An item on the right MAY be used more than once, but not all items on the right will be used.
  • Biological Classification System A. Georges Buffon J. Nicolaus Steno
  • Continental Drift B. George Cuvier K. Fred Vine
  • Genetics C. Charles Darwin L. Alfred Wegener
  • Explained Marine Magnetic Anomalies D. Harry Hess M. Abraham Werner
  • Natural Selection E. James Hutton N. J. Tuzo Wilson
  • Original Horizontality F. Carolus Linnaeus O. Both E. & G.
  • Plutonism G. Charles Lyell P. Both H. & K.
  • Seafloor Spreading H. Drummond Matthews
  • Transform Faults I. Gregor Mendel
  • Catastrophism K. J. Tuzo Wilson
  • Uniformitarianism N. Both E. & G.
  • Neptunism H. Fred Vine J. Both G. & I.

12 Short Answers: Briefly answer the following questions.

Nicholas Steno is credited with clearly setting forth what 3 principles? What does each state?

Why is James Hutton considered to be the father of modern historical geology?

Compare the modern view of the Principle of Uniformitarianism with that of Hutton and Lyell.

What is the difference between the relative and absolute geologic time scale?

The correct order of events from oldest to youngest in the diagram below is ___________________.

A. deposition of Shale, Limestone, Shale, & Sandstone, Fault (F), intrusion of Sill (B), intrusion of Dike (A) B. deposition of Shale, intrusion of Sill (B), deposition of Shale, Limestone, Shale, & Sandstone, Fault (F), intrusion of Dike (A) C. deposition of Shale, intrusion of Sill (B), deposition of Shale, Limestone, Shale, & Sandstone, intrusion of Dike (A), Fault (F) D. deposition of Shale, Limestone, Shale, & Sandstone, intrusion of Dike (A), intrusion of Sill (B), Fault (F) E. none of these.

Back to GLY116 Assessment Questions Home page