Relative Dating

What is used to determine whether an object is older or younger than other objects?

• Superposition

• Relative Dating

• Absolute Dating

• Unconformities

Which states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed?

• Law of Inclusions

• Law of Superposition

• Relative Dating

• Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships

A break in the geologic record that is made when rock layers are eroded over a long period of time describes:

• the Law of Superposition.

• the Law of Cross-cutting.

• relative dating.

• unconformities.

Traces or remains of organisms that lived long ago are:

• fossils.

• unconformities.

• cross-sections.

• geodes.

An ordered arrangement of rock layers that is based on the relative ages of the rocks is a(n):

• cross-cut.

• unconformity.

• deformation.

• geologic column.

What is the Law of Superposition?

• The age of sedimentary rock not found in the original layers.

• Metamorphic rock is younger than the nearby igneous rock.

• Sedimentary rock in it's original position is older than layers above it.

• Metamorphic rock is older because it was deposited to nearby sedimentary rock.

How does the Law of Cross-Cutting explain the age of a fault?

• The fault is younger than the rocks above it.

• The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

• The fault is older than the rocks above it.

• The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.

Analyze the seashell found in the white layer.  Which statement is true of the rock layer that contains this fossil?

• It could also contain a fossil from the bottom layer.
• It is older than the layers below it.
• It is younger than the layers above it.
• It is older than the layers above it.

How do geologists use relative dating?

• to place rocks in order from youngest to oldest

• to place rocks in order by minerals they contain

• to clasify rocks by different textures

• to classify rocks by different isotopes

What are the relative ages of the features in order from oldest to youngest?

• Limestone, Basalt, Fault, Siltstone
• Siltstone, Fault, Basalt, Limestone
• Limestone, Fault, Basalt, Siltstone
• Limestone, Siltstone, Fault, Basalt