Download TIME IN GEOLOGY - IMAGINELABS.PL

1. WERSJA PODSTAWOWA ZNAKU
TIME IN GEOLOGY
SYSTEM IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ PROJEKTU
„WIRTUALNE MUZEA MAŁOPOLSKI” ZAKŁADA
WYSTĘPOWANIE 1 PODSTAWOWEJ FORMY ZNAKU
W POSTACI LOGOTYPU. JEJ ROZSZERZENIE STANOWIĄ:
LOGO, UZUPEŁNIAJĄCE WARIANTY LOGOTYPU I DODATKOWE
WERSJE KOLORYSTYCZNE.
ZNAK OPARTY ZOSTAŁ O STYLIZOWANE LITERY „WMM”
NAWIĄZUJĄCE SWOIM KSZTAŁTEM DO KORONY
OBECNEJ W IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ WOJEWÓDZTWA
MAŁOPOLSKIEGO.
LITERY WPISANE SĄ W OTWARTĄ FORMĘ OPARTĄ O KOŁO
MAJĄCĄ BUDZIĆ SKOJARZENIA ZE ZNAKIEM @.
DO ZAPROJEKTOWANIA LOGOTYPU WYKORZYSTANO KRÓJ
Time measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years has been with us since
PISMA FF DIN ROUND PODKREŚLAJĄCY ZWIĄZEK PROJEKTU
Z NOWOCZESNĄ TECHNOLOGIĄ.
birth. It facilitates communication and helps to organise life. Time has existed since the
very beginning and people only managed to learn to describe it by observing some cyclically occurring natural phenomena.
Geologists measure time in millions and even billions of years. An error in the estimation
of the absolute age of the universe (that is, the time which is counted from the point of
the formation of the universe until now) of a given geological object by one or two million
years seems nothing in comparison to the history of the Earth… However, can we imagine
what one million years means? Are we able to imagine the difference between 165 million
years and one billion years? Surely not, because our lifespan is too short. I would therefore
like to invite you to discover how geologists measure time.
Fossils are the remains of plants and animals which have been preserved in fossilised form
until the present time. After the death of a given organism, the soft parts of its body (e.g.
the internal organs or the skin) decompose, while the hard parts (skeleton bones, shells)
are preserved and undergo fossilisation under the cover of sedimentation. These remains
offer useful information to geologists.
Ammonite (cephalopod) Perisphinctes (Dichotmosphinctes) cortalinus Siemiradzki
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/26837/1124790
Ammonite Euaspidoceras paucituberkulatum Arkell
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/1875581/1890612
Ammonites are marine cephalopods which once swam in warm
seas in the Jurassic period. Near Krakow, one can find fossils of
these animals (hardened sediment which filled the shell). Jurassic ammonites were excellent swimmers. They grew to a huge
size and the largest specimen found has a diameter of ca. 3 m.
These animals help us determine the age of the rocks because
they are ideal index fossils. Individual species of ammonites
described by palaeontologists existed on Earth for a relatively
short time (several million years). The fossils of the representatives of these species found in sedimentary rocks allow for an
exact estimation of the age of these rocks. Such rocks are referred to as index fossils. In
this case, the period of the appearance of a given species on Earth with its representa-
Time in geology / 1
muzea.malopolska.pl
1. WERSJA PODSTAWOWA ZNAKU
tives being fossilised is treated as a unit of time (the biostratigraphic level). Index fossils
SYSTEM IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ PROJEKTU
„WIRTUALNE MUZEA MAŁOPOLSKI” ZAKŁADA
WYSTĘPOWANIE 1 PODSTAWOWEJ FORMY ZNAKU
W POSTACI LOGOTYPU. JEJ ROZSZERZENIE STANOWIĄ:
LOGO, UZUPEŁNIAJĄCE WARIANTY LOGOTYPU I DODATKOWE
WERSJE KOLORYSTYCZNE.
are usually globally spread species. Thanks to this, the same levels (e.g. ammonites) can be
ZNAK OPARTY ZOSTAŁ O STYLIZOWANE LITERY „WMM”
NAWIĄZUJĄCE SWOIM KSZTAŁTEM DO KORONY
OBECNEJ W IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ WOJEWÓDZTWA
MAŁOPOLSKIEGO.
LITERY WPISANE SĄ W OTWARTĄ FORMĘ OPARTĄ O KOŁO
MAJĄCĄ BUDZIĆ SKOJARZENIA ZE ZNAKIEM @.
DO ZAPROJEKTOWANIA LOGOTYPU WYKORZYSTANO KRÓJ
distinguished on each continent. Ammonites are particularly useful as index fossils in the
PISMA FF DIN ROUND PODKREŚLAJĄCY ZWIĄZEK PROJEKTU
Z NOWOCZESNĄ TECHNOLOGIĄ.
Jurassic and Cretaceous period.
Ammonite mineralised with quartz and chalcedony
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/1875581/1891263
The Jurassic period lasted 56 million years and is divided into
eleven stages. Each of them was established based on an
important event in the Earth’s history, which is reflected in the
fossil record. The most precise division of the Jurassic period
is provided by ammonites. A palaeontologist can establish
the beginning of a specific ammonite level in the place of the
first occurrence of a given species in the fossil record. The level
finishes where the last trace is noted. This is the simplest level
known as the range level. Obviously, it can also be determined by the co-existence of one
or more species.
Didymoceras sp. ammonite
In the Cretaceous period, ammonite shells had non-typical shapes
and this facilitates their identification. Cretaceous ammonites are
also perfect index fossil forms and the non-standard shell shapes
enable their distinction from earlier forms. Some species took
shapes similar to the conical shells of snails. The causes of such
a rapid change in the morphology of Cretaceous ammonites can
be seen in the changes to the environment. Frequently, when
examining rocks of a similar time interval, it is possible to trace the entire evolutionary (phylogenetic) linage of particular ammonite species and their individual stages (e.g. to what extent
the shell has been twisted) can also be used to determine time. The method is based on the
assumption that evolutionary changes constitute a continuous process in time, so Natura non
facit saltus (“Nature does not make jumps”), as Darwin said.
Cymatoceras patens nautiloid
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/26837/4881598
There are some species of animals on Earth which existed many
millions of years ago and have been preserved until the present time in an almost unchanged form. Such species cannot be
Time in geology / 2
muzea.malopolska.pl
1. WERSJA PODSTAWOWA ZNAKU
index fossils. Apart from ammonites, Jurassic and Cretaceous seas were also the habitats
SYSTEM IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ PROJEKTU
„WIRTUALNE MUZEA MAŁOPOLSKI” ZAKŁADA
WYSTĘPOWANIE 1 PODSTAWOWEJ FORMY ZNAKU
W POSTACI LOGOTYPU. JEJ ROZSZERZENIE STANOWIĄ:
LOGO, UZUPEŁNIAJĄCE WARIANTY LOGOTYPU I DODATKOWE
WERSJE KOLORYSTYCZNE.
of nautiloids, which we know also from seas today. Although they resemble ammonites
ZNAK OPARTY ZOSTAŁ O STYLIZOWANE LITERY „WMM”
NAWIĄZUJĄCE SWOIM KSZTAŁTEM DO KORONY
OBECNEJ W IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ WOJEWÓDZTWA
MAŁOPOLSKIEGO.
LITERY WPISANE SĄ W OTWARTĄ FORMĘ OPARTĄ O KOŁO
MAJĄCĄ BUDZIĆ SKOJARZENIA ZE ZNAKIEM @.
DO ZAPROJEKTOWANIA LOGOTYPU WYKORZYSTANO KRÓJ
in their appearance, they are distant relatives. The first specimens, which actually did not
PISMA FF DIN ROUND PODKREŚLAJĄCY ZWIĄZEK PROJEKTU
Z NOWOCZESNĄ TECHNOLOGIĄ.
resemble today’s Nautilus, due to their simple shell, appeared as early as the Cambrian (ca.
541 million years ago).
Paradoxides bohemicus trilobite
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/26837/4874459
Trilobites belong to the arthropod family. Their bodies are covered with a shell built of chitin and calcium carbonate. They are
known from the Palaeozoic Era but their particularly intensive
development took place in the Cambrian (ca. 542 million years
ago). Trilobites grew gradually and shed their shells like most
arthropods. Apart from the shells of these animals, ecdysis are
often found in Cambrian rocks. Thanks to their diverse morphology and widespread occurrence, they are perfect index fossils, especially for the Cambrian period. Although they can be
treated as long-lived organisms (they died out at the end of the Palaeozoic Era, ca. 251 million
years ago), thanks to their unique evolution trilobites are used to measure time in geology.
Imprint of an insect (fossilised dragonfly) in lithographic
limestone
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/26837/4881509
One of the characteristics of an index fossil is its widespread
occurrence in fossilised form. It is estimated that around 5% of
organisms with hard body parts can be fossilised, so they may
behave like fossils. This shows how little we know about the
world in past geological epochs.
However, sometimes, thanks to unique conditions, their remains are preserved which
would otherwise be destroyed (e.g. delicate wings of insects or soft parts). Such findings
provide important information about the world millions of years ago but they cannot be
treated as index fossils as there are too few of them or their occurrence is restricted.
Lower Jurassic limestone from Solnhofen (Germany) belongs to unique fossil records.
Perfectly preserved fossilised insects were found in them. During the Lower Jurassic the
present location of Solnhofen was an isolated lagoon of increased salinity and probably
with waters of high oxygen content, which contributed to such a perfect preservation of
the fossils.
Time in geology / 3
muzea.malopolska.pl
1. WERSJA PODSTAWOWA ZNAKU
Crinoids
SYSTEM IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ PROJEKTU
„WIRTUALNE MUZEA MAŁOPOLSKI” ZAKŁADA
WYSTĘPOWANIE 1 PODSTAWOWEJ FORMY ZNAKU
W POSTACI LOGOTYPU. JEJ ROZSZERZENIE STANOWIĄ:
LOGO, UZUPEŁNIAJĄCE WARIANTY LOGOTYPU I DODATKOWE
WERSJE KOLORYSTYCZNE.
ZNAK OPARTY ZOSTAŁ O STYLIZOWANE LITERY „WMM”
NAWIĄZUJĄCE SWOIM KSZTAŁTEM DO KORONY
OBECNEJ W IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ WOJEWÓDZTWA
MAŁOPOLSKIEGO.
LITERY WPISANE SĄ W OTWARTĄ FORMĘ OPARTĄ O KOŁO
MAJĄCĄ BUDZIĆ SKOJARZENIA ZE ZNAKIEM @.
DO ZAPROJEKTOWANIA LOGOTYPU WYKORZYSTANO KRÓJ
PISMA FF DIN ROUND PODKREŚLAJĄCY ZWIĄZEK PROJEKTU
Z NOWOCZESNĄ TECHNOLOGIĄ.
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty//a/1875581/1902347
Crinoids are animals which may be mistaken for plants due to
their non-typical morphology. Currently, they constitute a relatively small group of sea animals but in the earlier geological
eras they were common in warm seas. Thanks to this, individual
species of crinoids are used in geology to measure time. The fossilised calyx of these animals is rarely preserved but the stems, which burst apart after their
death into many single parts known as crinoids, are found relatively often.
Trigonia interlaevigata crustacean
http://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/26837/4875285
Inoceramus bivalve, Geological Museum of the Institute of
Geological Sciences of the Jagiellonian University (extra
exhibit)
Bivalves belong to the most diverse and dynamically developed
classes of animals. In the Palaeozoic Era they did not occur in large
numbers and were dominated by brachiopods. Their intensive development began in the
Mesozoic, when they started to control marine ecosystems and developed mechanisms to
facilitate their survival, for example an ability to bury oneself quickly. Owing to their diversity
and widespread occurrence, bivalves are very useful index fossils. Based on individual species
of bivalves from the Inoceramus genus, the whole Upper Cretaceous was divided into smaller
units. In contemporary seas, bivalves are still developing abundantly and they amaze not
only with their appearance but also their taste (!).
Agata Jurkowska, PhD – A geologist who is associated with the Institute of Geological
Sciences of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. She carries out geological research in Poland and in Madagascar. She likes to teach, especially to children. For the last few years, she
has been organising workshops and presentations with the goal of popularising science.
• Graphic design:
She has been the organiser of, among others, The Days of the Earth, a series of geological,
Anna Zabdyrska
speleological, cartographic and ecological workshops within the Science Festival and “The
• Interactive presentation:
St. Anne Mountain Meeting on the Volcano” (Annogórskie spotkanie na wulkanie). Winner
Igor Szelest
of the “Science Popularisation” (Popularyzator Nauki) competition organised by the Polish
• Editor:
science news website of the Polish Press Agency in Poland and the Ministry of Science and
Kinga Kołodziejska
Higher Education in the category of Scientist/Scientific institution. Geology is not only her
profession but also her passion.
Time in geology / 4
muzea.malopolska.pl