Explain how fossils, and especially microfossils, can be used to help determine ancient depositional environments. Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s)
Marine versus terrestrial organisms are relatively easy to distinguish, based on a comparison
with their living counterparts. Geologists must determine, though, whether the organism lived
where they were buried or whether their remains were transported there. Microfossils are
particularly useful, because many specimens can be recovered from small samples.
Strong invertebrate shells usually indicate a high energy environment, such as the intertidal
zone; fragile fossils indicate low-energy environment. Coral reefs indicate warm, shallow
marine environments. Marine microfossils are particularly important because so many can be
retrieved in a single core sample.
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Which of these methods used to deal with hazardous wastes can produce dioxins? Dioxins are one of the most toxic chemicals known to science.
A. incineration B. physical detoxification C. biological detoxification D. chemical detoxification
All crossopterygians went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous. Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Atmospheric greenhouse gases are best described as
A) selective absorbers. B) good reflectors. C) blackbodies. D) non-participants in radiative processes. E) aerosols
Why do hurricanes in the Atlantic move toward the west during their early stages?
A) Coriolis effect guides them. B) Warmer water temperatures guide them. C) Prevailing winds are from the east. D) They are steered by ocean currents. E) They move away from areas of high salinity.