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.

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.

Front

What is an unconformity?

Back

An unconformity is a surface that represents a gap in the geological record, indicating that sediment was not deposited for a period of time.

Front

Define 'inclusion' in geology.

Back

Inclusion refers to a piece of one rock unit that is contained within another, indicating that the included rock is older than the surrounding rock.

Front

What is a fault?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which can cause displacement.

Front

What is an intrusion?

Back

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

Front

How can you determine the relative age of rock layers?

Back

By using principles such as the Law of Superposition, cross-cutting relationships, and the presence of inclusions.

Front

What is the significance of index fossils?

Back

Index fossils are used to identify and date the relative ages of rock layers, as they are widespread but only existed for a short period.

Front

What does 'younger' mean in relative dating?

Back

'Younger' refers to a geological feature or layer that was formed after another feature or layer.

Front

What does 'older' mean in relative dating?

Back

'Older' refers to a geological feature or layer that was formed before another feature or layer.