the standard method used to divide the Earth's long natural history into manageable parts

an indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect

a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic

shorter than an era, larger than an epoch

shorter than a period; shortest division of geologic time

Age of Creation; oldest and longest era; single-cell organisms

Age of Diversification and Fishes

A supercontinent containing all of Earth's land that existed about 225 million years ago

Age of the Dinosaurs

Age of the Mammals

the process of becoming extinct where a species comes to an end or dies out

the process of gradual change and events that include the steps to create the Earth

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

a branch of geology dealing with the rocks and movement of Earth's crust

the movement of a fluid, caused by differences in temperature, that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another

a break or fracture in the ground that occurs when the Earth's tectonic plates move or shift and are areas where earthquakes are likely to occur.

a geological fault in which one of the adjacent surfaces appears to have moved horizontally

inclined fractures where the blocks have mostly shifted vertically

a tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide and destroy crust

a tectonic plate boundary where two plates separate and create crust

a tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other and crust is neither created or destroyed

the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

developed the theory of continental drift

the theory that geologic processes are the same today as they were in the past

principle that states all geologic change occurs suddenly

the age, in years, of a rock or other object

a method of determining the rate of decay and half-life of isotopes to determine a sample's age

a radioactive isotope which is present in organic materials and is the basis for radiocarbon dating

the amount of time it takes for one-half of the radioactive isotope to decay

atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

somethings age in comparison to the ages of other things

layers of rock

In undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest rocks are on the bottom and the rocks become younger toward the top

a gap in the sequence of rock layers; The surface where new rock layers meet a much older rock surface beneath them

the forcible entry of molten rock or magma into or between other rock formations

rock formations from magma that cools and solidifies above the surface of the crust

provides information on climate from different periods (up to almost one million years) that can be used for research and are commonly found in the polar ice caps

Preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past

species existed for a short period of time, were abundant, and were widespread geographically

formed when an object is placed into soft mud and is removed by decomposition or physical sources

formed when a mold fossil fills up with sediment; three dimensional

evidence of plants, animals, and other organisms in the form of preserved footprints, tracks, burrows, borings, and feces left behind rather than the actual organism's remains

A plant, animal or other organism that is perfectly preserved for many years

Petrified Fossil

the remains of plants, animals and other organisms are converted into a carbon or carbon-containing residue

Geologist

the process through which sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks are created, changed, destroyed, and formed again

formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of material, especially material transported by water

rocks that are subjected to high heat and pressure which causes a profound change in form

the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water