Question 1

Why is the half-life of a radioactive element important in considering the choice of a method to be used for determining the radiometric age of a mineral or rock?

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Question 2

Nineteenth century geologists tried to estimate the absolute age of rock strata by calculating how long it would take to deposit a stratigraphic sequence of a given thickness.What was wrong with this approach?

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Question 3

What are magnetic reversals,and how often do they occur?

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Question 4

Generally describe the methods by which numerical dates can be determined for igneous rocks.What assumptions are used in these dating methods?

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Question 5

Explain the methods used by geologists to approximate the numerical ages of the stratigraphic time scale.How are these ages being continually refined?

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Question 6

Some people believe that the age of Earth is very young.What evidence supports the conclusion of scientists that Earth is much older,approximately 4.56 billion years?

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Question 7

Discuss the importance of the Ediacaran Period.

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Question 8

Would the principles of stratigraphy used to determine relative ages on Earth be useful tools for determining relative ages on the Moon or Mars? Explain your answer.

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Question 9

Name the eras of Phanerozoic time,starting from oldest to youngest.

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Question 10

If you know the half-life of a radioactive isotope that occurs in an igneous rock,what must you measure to determine the age of the rock?

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Question 11

What are carbonaceous chondrites?

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Question 12

Scientists claim that Earth is 4.56 billion years old.Why hasn't a rock been found that is this old?

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Quiz 3: How Old Is Old the Rock Record and Geologic Time