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 in years.

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What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, younger rocks are found above older rocks.

Front

Where is the youngest material of the ocean floor found?

Back

The youngest material of the ocean floor is found at mid-ocean ridges.

Front

What is the purpose of relative dating?

Back

Relative dating is used to determine whether an object is older or younger than other objects.

Front

What does the Law of Crosscutting state?

Back

The Law of Crosscutting states that a fault or intrusion is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

Front

How does absolute age differ from relative age?

Back

Absolute age provides a specific age in years, while relative age only indicates whether one rock is older or younger than another.

Front

What is an unconformity?

Back

An unconformity is a gap in the geological record that represents a period of erosion or non-deposition.

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What is a fossil?

Back

A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, often used in relative dating.

Front

What is the significance of index fossils?

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Index fossils are fossils of organisms that lived during a specific time period and are used to date the rock layers in which they are found.

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What is stratigraphy?

Back

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers (strata) and layering, which is essential for understanding the relative ages of rocks.