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Geology

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Chapter 1 3. Uniformitarianism has scientifically proven that geological processes have been nearly unchanged from the past. Catastrophic events that once impacted the Earth still have the potential to repeat itself due to the observable geological features and geological processes that still act in the same manner. Since natural events that have been proven to repeat themselves, the tendency for ongoing natural disasters will always be a major concern.

5. Geological processes still maintain the ability to affect daily life due to the nature of the Earth’s surface and the natural effects that coincide with each other. Erosion, natural weathering, and tectonics are all processes that could act in a manner to drastically affect daily life.

Chapter 2 2. Because igneous rocks are solidified from magma or lava, I believe that when ash is released it is consider igneous. Volcanic ash, by origin, is inconsiderably igneous. The point in which volcanic ash may be considered a sedimentary rock is when the ash has fallen to the floor and undergoes a cementation process. Behaviorally, once volcanic ash is shot into the air, the after effects closely resemble sediments.

3. Water does not qualify to be considered a mineral because it fails to meet the requirement of being a solid. Beach sand is not considered to be a mineral because it contains organic materials. Diamonds are classified as minerals. They contain a crystalline structure and are a solid. Wood is not a mineral due to chemical composition and organic materials. A vitamin pill may contain minerals, but also has organic materials. A gold nugget is comprised of a fixed chemical formula, it is a solid, as well as a native element which makes it a mineral. A fishbone is not a mineral due it having organic material. An emerald is a mineral because just as a diamond, it contains a crystalline structure and is a solid.

Chapter 3 3. By researching the Geology of Tehachapi, from where I currently reside, I have learned that rock formations date back to the late Cretaceous-early Cenozoic period. By referring to the stratigraphic time scale that puts the age from roughly 80-60 million years old. Researching radiometric time scale studies could also lead you to find out how old rock formations may be.

4. The Cambrian period has been determined to be roughly 543-490 million years ago. Throughout this period, researchers have found fossils that mainly consisted of invertebrates that lived in water. Some examples of these life forms are: trilobites, Pikaia, mollusks, worms, and sponges.

Chapter 15
1.Due to the distance between Venus and Earth from the Sun, both Venus and Earth evolved very differently. Being that Venus is much closer than the Earth is to the Sun the atmospheric conditions are increasingly harsher. The content and pressure caused from this presents Venus with the inability to sustain life. If Earth was as close to the Sun as Venus, the Earth wouldn’t have the ability to cool off. Allowing the Earth to cool off provided ways for the vapor to condense and reducing the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. Without the filtration of CO2, oxygen can’t be established.
4. If Dinosaurs had not gone extinct, and supposing that no other catastrophic events were to transpire thereafter, then I believe humanity as we know would have never taken place. Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for a long period of time with much success. Having said that and taking into account evolution, Dinosaurs would probably have evolved and adapted into much more intelligent and dominant species.

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