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Types of Unconformities
Type Example Description
Nonconformity Unstratied igneous or metamorphic rock
may be uplifted to Earths surface by crustal
movements. Once the rock is exposed, it
erodes. Sediments may then be deposited on
the eroded surface. The boundary between
the new sedimentary rock and the igneous
or metamorphic rock is a nonconformity. The
boundary represents an unknown period of
time during which the older rock was eroded.
Angular
unconformity
An angular unconformity forms when rock
deposited in horizontal layers is folded or tilted
and then eroded. When erosion stops, a new
horizontal layer is deposited on top of a tilted
layer. When the bedding planes of the older
rock layers are not parallel to those of the
younger rock layers deposited above them, an
angular unconformity results.
Disconformity Sometimes, layers of sediments are uplifted
without folding or tilting and are eroded.
Eventually, the area subsides and deposition
resumes. The layers on either side of the
boundary are nearly horizontal. Although
the rock layers look as if they were deposited
continuously, a large time gap exists where
the upper and lower layers meet. This gap is
known as a disconformity.
Types of Unconformities 40
The Rock Record TEACHING TRANSPARENCY
Name Class Date
Transparency Worksheet
Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Holt Earth Science The Rock Record
Types of Unconformities
1. How do noncomformities differ from angular conformities and
disconformities?



2. Why do unconformities represent a break in the geologic record?




3. In a nonconformity, what types of rock underlie the sedimentary rock?




4. Which type of unconformity do you think is the most difficult to detect?
Explain your answer.




5. The geologic processes of uplifting and folding would most likely precede
which type of unconformity?




Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
Holt Earth Science 12 Answer Key
ANSWER KEY
2. the turbine
3. a generator
4. Answers may vary. Sample answer: The
turbine spins rapidly to generate elec-
tricity. Fish would have to pass through
it to get past the dam.
5. Answers may vary. Sample answer:
Yes, but a smaller amount of electricity
would be generated.
38 Wind Power in the United States
1. WY and AK
2. CA and WA
3. TX
4. the Rocky Mountains
5. TX
6. The comparison means that these
states could be a major source of wind
energy, much as Saudi Arabia is a
major source of oil.
39 Law of Superposition
1. sedimentary rock
2. that the rock layer is underformed
3. Sedimentary layers will always be
deposited on top of metamorphic rock
or large igneous rock masses. Igneous
rock from volcanic eruptions can be
deposited as part of the rock sequence.
4. Layer B is older than layer C, because
the law of superposition dictates that
an underformed rock layer is older
than the layers above it.
40 Types of Unconformities
1. Nonconformities involve layers of
sedimentary rock that form on top of
unstratified rock. Angular unconformi-
ties and disconformities both involve
sedimentary rock layers that form on
top of stratified rock.
2. Unconformities indicate that a rock
layer was exposed to erosion for a
period of time before the overlying sed-
imentary layers were deposited. This
erosional period creates a break in the
geologic record.
3. metamorphic or igneous rock
4. a disconformity, because all of the rock
layers are stratified and horizontal
5. an angular unconformity
41 Crosscutting Relationships
1. the fault, because the law of crosscut-
ting relationships states that the fault is
younger than the rock it cuts
2. Faulting must have occurred most
recently because it cuts through all the
layers of rock and the intrusion.
3. The igneous intrusion is younger
because it cuts through layer C.
4. No. Either could have formed after
layer C was deposited but before fault-
ing occurred.
42 Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
1. In beta decay, a neutron gives off a
beta particle. In alpha decay, an alpha
particle consisting of two protons and
two neutrons is emitted.
2. The mass of the atom decreases
because the atom loses two protons
and two neutrons that make up the
alpha particle.
3. 4
4. one-half
5. after one half-life
43 Geologic Map of Bedrock in Ohio
1. the Permian, Pennsylavanian,
Mississippian, devonian, Silurian, and
Ordovician
2. The youngest bedrock is in the south-
eastern part of the state; the oldest bed-
rock is in the western part of the state.
3. In traveling east to west, the bedrock
would generally become older.
4. The bedrock layers are tilted upwards.
The more horizontal surface of earth
cuts across the angled layers and thus
exposes them. If the layers were hori-
zontal, only the top, or youngest layer
wuld be exposed.
5. because Mississippian rock was formed
in the Mississippian Period just after the
rock formed in the Devonian Period
6. To find early reptile fossils youd look
in Pennsylvanian rock, represented by
the color blue, which occurs in a large
stripe extending to the southwest from
eastern Ohio.
44 The Geologic Time Scale
1. More recent rocks have been altered or
eroded less than older rocks have and