Law of Superposition

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What is the Law of Superposition?

Back

The Law of Superposition states that in any undisturbed sequence of rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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What is relative age?

Back

Relative age is the age of a rock layer compared to the ages of other rock layers.

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What is absolute age?

Back

Absolute age is the number of years that have passed since the rock formed.

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Which rock layer is typically the oldest in a sequence?

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The bottom layer is typically the oldest in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks.

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What is an intrusion in geology?

Back

An intrusion is a body of igneous rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies beneath the Earth's surface.

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What is a fault?

Back

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

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What is folding in geology?

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Folding is the bending of rock layers due to tectonic forces, often resulting in the formation of hills and valleys.

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What is an index fossil?

Back

An index fossil is a fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.

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How can you determine the relative age of rock layers?

Back

You can determine the relative age of rock layers by examining their position in a sequence and using the Law of Superposition.

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What is the significance of the Kaibab formation?

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The Kaibab formation is significant as it is one of the youngest rock layers in the Grand Canyon, indicating more recent geological events.