Relative Dating

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What is Relative Dating?

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

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What does the Law of Superposition state?

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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.

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What is an unconformity?

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An unconformity is a gap in the geological record that occurs when rock layers are eroded or when sediment is not deposited for a period of time.

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What are fossils?

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Fossils are traces or remains of organisms that lived long ago, preserved in rock.

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What is the oldest layer in a sequence of rock layers?

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The oldest layer is the one that is found at the bottom of the sequence, according to the Law of Superposition.

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How can erosion affect rock layers?

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Erosion can remove layers of rock, creating unconformities and gaps in the geological record.

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What is the significance of the order of rock layers?

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The order of rock layers helps geologists understand the history of the Earth and the relative ages of the rocks and fossils within them.

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What is a sedimentary rock?

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Sedimentary rock is a type of rock formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

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What is an intrusion in geology?

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

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What is the principle of original horizontality?

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