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Chapter 8'
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Uniformitarianism | A principle that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes |
| Catastrophism | A principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly |
| Paleontology | The scientist study of fossils |
| Rock cycle | The continous proccess by which rock type changes into another rock type |
| Sedimentary rock | A rock that forms form compressed or cemented layers of sediment |
| Metamorphic rock | Rock that forms when texture or composition of existing rock changes due to heat or pressure |
| Igneous rock | Rock that forms when magma lava cools and solidifies |
| Relative dating | Any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects |
| Superposition | A principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed |
| Absolute dating | Any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years |
| Radio metric | A method of determining the absolute age of an object by comparing the relative percentages of a radioactive (parent) isotope and a stable (daughter) isotope |