Relative Dating Stratification Assignment

Front

What is the law of superposition?

Back

The law of superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

Front

Which layer is the youngest according to the law of superposition?

Back

The youngest layer is the one at the top of the sequence.

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.

Front

What does it mean if a rock layer is described as 'older'?

Back

An 'older' rock layer is one that was formed before another layer in the geological sequence.

Front

What is an intrusion in geology?

Back

An intrusion is a body of igneous rock that has formed from magma that has cooled and solidified beneath the Earth's surface.

Front

How can faults affect the relative dating of rock layers?

Back

Faults can displace rock layers, making it difficult to determine their original order, but they can also indicate that the fault occurred after the layers were formed.

Front

What is stratigraphy?

Back

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers (strata) and layering, which is used to understand the geological history of an area.

Front

What is the significance of fossils in relative dating?

Back

Fossils can help determine the relative ages of rock layers, as certain fossils are known to appear only in specific geological time periods.

Front

What is a sedimentary rock?

Back

Sedimentary rock is formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles, often in layers.

Front

What is the principle of original horizontality?

Back

The principle of original horizontality states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.