7th Grade Unit 3 Lesson 8 Investigating Rock Strata

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

Determining the age of an object or event in relation to other objects or events.

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

A method used to determine the exact age of a fossil or rock layer.

Front

What does the law of lateral continuity state?

Back

Sediments are deposited in layers that extend horizontally in all directions until they reach an obstacle.

Front

What is an index fossil?

Back

A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular period of time.

Front

What does the law of cross-cutting relationships state?

Back

Geological features are younger than the features they cut across.

Front

What is the principle of superposition?

Back

In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Front

What is a sedimentary rock?

Back

A type of rock formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Front

What is the significance of index fossils in geology?

Back

They help geologists determine the relative ages of rock layers.

Front

What is stratigraphy?

Back

The study of rock layers and layering.