Relative Age of Rocks

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What is the relative age of rocks?

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The relative age of rocks refers to the age of a rock layer compared to other layers, determining which is older or younger without knowing their exact age.

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What is the law of superposition?

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The law of superposition states that in undisturbed horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest is at the top.

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What is an index fossil?

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An index fossil is a fossil of a widely distributed organism that lived during a geologically short period, used to date and correlate the age of rock layers.

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Who proposed the theory of Continental Drift?

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Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of Continental Drift, suggesting that continents were once joined together and have since drifted apart.

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What is Pangaea?

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Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed about 250 million years ago, where all the continents were joined together.

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What does absolute age mean?

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Absolute age is the actual age of a rock or fossil, often determined through radiometric dating.

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What is erosion?

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Erosion is the process by which rock and soil are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.

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What is an unconformity in geology?

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

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What is the significance of fossils in determining the relative age of rocks?

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Fossils help determine the relative age of rocks by indicating the time period in which the organisms lived, allowing for correlation between rock layers.

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What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

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Relative age compares the age of rock layers to one another, while absolute age provides a specific age in years.