Relative dating

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without determining their exact age.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What does the law of superposition state?

Back

In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is an intrusion in geology?

Back

An intrusion is a body of igneous rock that forms when magma penetrates existing rock layers and solidifies.

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures in rock along which movement has occurred.

Front

What is an inclusion?

Back

An inclusion is a piece of one rock unit that is contained within another rock unit, indicating that the included rock is older.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is an unconformity?

Back

An unconformity is a surface that represents a gap in the geological record, where rock layers have been eroded or not deposited.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

How does the law of crosscutting apply to geological features?

Back

The law of crosscutting states that a geological feature (like a fault or intrusion) that cuts across another feature is younger than the feature it cuts.

Front

What is the significance of the youngest rock layer?

Back

The youngest rock layer is the most recent layer deposited, providing insights into the latest geological events.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

How can you determine which rock layer is older?

Back

By applying the principles of relative dating, such as the law of superposition and the law of crosscutting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is the difference between a fault and an intrusion?

Back

A fault is a break in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred, while an intrusion is molten rock that has solidified within existing rock layers.