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Geologic Time
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| states that geologic processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past. | uniformitarianism |
| age of rocks and geological features compared with other rocks and features nearby. | relative age |
| principle that in undisturbed rock layers. The oldest rocks are on the bottom. | law of superposition |
| most rock- forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers. | principle of original horizontality |
| sediments are deposited in large continuous sheets in all lateral directions. | principle of lateral continuity |
| one rock contains pieces of another rock. The rock containing the pieces is younger than the pieces. | principle of inclusions |
| remains or traces of ancient living organisms | fossils |
| times when many species on earth died or became extinct within a relatively short period of time. | mass extinction |
| fossils of species that existed on earth for a short length of time. Were abundant and inhabited many locations. | index fossils |
| erath's history from it's origin 4.6 billion years ago to present | geologic time scale |