ASBOG Paleontology and Geochronology

Question 1

Which radiometric dating method relies on the decay of uranium-238 to lead-206?

Accepted Answer

Uranium-Lead dating

Answer

Carbon-14 dating

Answer

Potassium-Argon dating

Answer

Rubidium-Strontium dating

Question 2

The Cambrian Explosion is significant in paleontology because it marks:

Accepted Answer

The rapid diversification of complex multicellular animal body plans

Answer

The first appearance of vascular land plants

Answer

The mass extinction of the dinosaurs

Answer

The formation of extensive coal-forming swamp forests

Question 3

Which group of fossils serves as the best index fossils for Cretaceous marine sediments?

Accepted Answer

Ammonites

Answer

Trilobites

Answer

Graptolites

Answer

Fusulinids

Question 4

The half-life of Carbon-14 (¹⁴C) used in radiocarbon dating is approximately:

Accepted Answer

5,730 years

Answer

704 million years

Answer

1.25 billion years

Answer

48.8 billion years

Question 5

Which geologic era spans from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Paleozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Answer

Proterozoic Eon

Question 6

Biostratigraphy correlates and dates rock units primarily by using:

Accepted Answer

Fossil assemblages and their stratigraphic ranges

Answer

Geomagnetic polarity reversals

Answer

Seismic wave velocities

Answer

Absolute radiometric ages

Question 7

The end-Permian (Permian-Triassic) mass extinction is estimated to have eliminated approximately what percentage of marine species?

Accepted Answer

96%

Answer

30%

Answer

50%

Answer

70%