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 is a Fault?

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

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What is an Intrusion?

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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 an Extrusion?

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An Extrusion is the process where lava flows out onto the Earth's surface and solidifies, forming volcanic rock.

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How can younger rocks be found below older rocks?

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Younger rocks can be found below older rocks due to geological processes such as folding, faulting, or intrusion.

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What is the significance of fossils in relative dating?

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Fossils help in relative dating by providing clues about the age of the rock layers in which they are found, as certain fossils are characteristic of specific geological periods.

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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.

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What is the difference between Intrusion and Extrusion?

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Intrusion occurs when magma cools and solidifies below the Earth's surface, while Extrusion occurs when lava erupts and solidifies on the surface.