Dating Rock Layers and Fossils

Analyzing the Rock and Fossil Record- Review

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Why is it Important?

• Understand earth history (geologic & living)

• ​Learn that the earth has always been changing. (Uniformitarianism)

• Predict the future​

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• Order of Earths events

• Comparing rocks and fossils to each other

• THIS CHAPTER​

Relative Aging

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• Actual age

• Radio Carbon Dating

• Future Chapter​

Absolute Aging

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The same processes that we see today on earth have always been happening. Because of this, we can interpret earth's history.

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Uniformitarianism

• Scientific Law

• Rock layers are laid down one on top of another.

• ​Youngest on top

• Oldest on bottom​

Principle: Superposition

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If a rock layer has pieces of another type of rock in it. The rock pieces have to be older than the rock layer they are in. The rock layer has to be younger than the rock pieces in it.

Inclusions

If one geologic feature (intrusion or fault) cuts into another rock layer. The intrusion or fault has to be younger than the rock layer it is cutting into. The rock layer has to be older than what cut into it.

Cross-Cutting Relationships

Multiple Choice

What is the correct order from oldest to youngest?

• JKLM

• MJKL

• JKML

• MLKJ

Multiple Choice

What geologic principle tells me the age of M

• Cross-Cutting Relationships

• Superposition

• Original Horizontality

• Inclusions

Multiple Choice

What is the order from oldest to youngest?

• CBDAE

• BACED

• CBADE

• CBAED

The remains or traces of ancient living things.

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​Fossils

By comparing fossils and the rock layers they are found in, we can determine which creatures lived before or after others.

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Fossil Dating

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By looking at fossils and rock layers we can determine when species went extinct or came to be.

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​Fossil Interpretation