Axia College Material

Appendix E Week Two Lab Report: Relative and Absolute Geologic Time
Answer the lab questions for this week and summarize the lab experience using this form. Full Name Date Michaela Vos 9/01/2010

Carefully read pages pp.4-20 of Geoscience Laboratory. Complete this weeks lab by filling in your responses to the questions from Geoscience Laboratory. Select answers are provided for you in red font to assist you with your lab work. Although you are only required to respond to the questions in this worksheet, you are encouraged to answer others from the text on your own.

Lab Questions
1.4. A. In Figure 1.9A, does the geometry of the normal fault appear to be the result of tension, or does it appear to be the result of compression? It appears to be the result of compresion. B. How about the reverse fault in Figure 1.9B? Hint: In one case the crust appears to have lengthened, whereas in the other case the crust appears to have shortened. This appears to be the result of tension. Cross-section 2 on page 7:

1. Deposition of E

2. Unconformities

3.Deopsition of C

4.Tilting down to the left

5.Deposition of B

6.Deposition of A

7. Unconformities

8. Intrusion of D

1.7.

In the succession of strata below (Fig. 1.15), at which stratum boundaryI through VIII does there appear to be an unconformity as indicated by the distribution of fossil species? Suggestion: It might be helpful to first abbreviate the name of each geologic period indicated by a fossil species on its corresponding line to the right. The lowest (Cambrian) is supplied. Then look for gap(s) within the succession. 1) Camb 2) Bathyusus extans 3) Hexamocerus hertzri 4) Palmatolepus uniconis 5) Prolecanites gurleyi6) Parafusulina bosei7) Scaphites hippocrepis 8) Venericardia planicosta

1.9.

In the succession of strata below (Fig. 1.17), there are no faults. Notice that in stratum #9 there is a fragment of Parafusulina bosei (a species that occurs in stratum #6). Explain this recurrence of Parafusulina bosei in stratum #9. Hint: You might need to review the Principle of Inclusions (Example 2) Because a fossil had re-eroded, and then deposited again in future strata.

1.10.

What is the age of the tree sketched in Figure 1.18A? Answer: 9 years

1.12.

Whats your guess as to what accounts for the group of seven closely spaced tree rings in Figure 1.21? Answer: 7-year drought

1.13.

In Figure 1.22, tree #1 grew in sparse woods and tree #2 grew in dense woods. So which of the above four factors do you imagine accounts for the difference in their sizes? Hint:

In the field, neither competition for soil nutrients nor moisture appears to have been the reason. Because there were so many trees in the dense woods that they didnt get the right amount of individual sunlight they needed to really flourish, and they just didnt have as much free room to grow. 1.20. Collections of corals from three different rock formations on Mystery Island exhibit both daily and annual growth increments. On Answer Page 21, for each of the collections, give the age in millions of years and the geologic period indicated. A. Corals in collection #1 record 407 days per year. Answer: 430; Silurian B. Corals in collection #2 record 396 days per year. 300 C. Corals in collection #3 record 382 days per year. 150 1.23. Using Figure 1.31, solve for the age of the oldest rock yet studied. Hint: Count each of the tiny tick-marks in Figure 1.31 as one billion years in the case of uranium-238. Answer: 4 billion years 1.24. How old are the oldest meteorites yet studied? 3.47 billion years old 1.25. So whats the minimum age of Earth?

The minimum age of earth is 4 billion years old 1.27. Can you name a rather obvious vestigial structure in the human skeleton? Hint: This structure has both a proper anatomical name and a vernacular (common) name. The tailbone (coccyx)

Lab Summary
Address the following questions in a 100- to 200-word summary: Summarize the general principles and purpose of the lab. Explain how this lab helped you better understand the topics and concepts addressed this week. Describe what you found challenging about this lab. Describe what you found interesting about this lab.

Write your summary here: I think that the general purposes of this whole lab was to teach us how old the earth and many of the things in it are. Also how scientists calculate the age of fossils. This lab helped

me understand the topics and concepts because it was interactive for me; I liked how this lab gave hits as to getting the answers, and examples for some of the figures. What I found challenging in this lab would be the graph of the 4-min. timer, I still dont really understand how to use it. What I had found interesting about this lab was the index fossils, I had no idea there was such a thing.