Dating Rocks and Fossils Using Geologic Methods Quiz

What is the principle of superposition?

• Any geologic feature that cross-cuts strata must have formed after the rocks they cut through.

• Layers of strata are deposited horizontally.

• Fossil species succeed each other in a definitive, recognizable order.

• The oldest rocks are at the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top.

Which method uses the decay of 14C to determine the age of organic material?

• K-Ar dating

• Uranium-Lead dating

• Radiocarbon dating

• Fission track dating

What is the principle of original horizontality?

• Layers of strata are deposited horizontally or nearly horizontally.

• The oldest rocks are at the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top.

• Any geologic feature that cross-cuts strata must have formed after the rocks they cut through.

• Fossil species succeed each other in a definitive, recognizable order.

What is the half-life of an isotope?

• The time it takes for isotopes to become radioactive.

• The time it takes for daughter isotopes to become stable.

• The time it takes for half of the parent isotopes to decay into daughter isotopes.

• The time it takes for all parent isotopes to decay into daughter isotopes.

Which of the following is NOT a method of absolute dating?

• K-Ar dating

• Stratigraphy

• Uranium-Lead dating

• Radiocarbon dating

What does the principle of faunal succession state?

• Any geologic feature that cross-cuts strata must have formed after the rocks they cut through.

• Layers of strata are deposited horizontally.

• The oldest rocks are at the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top.

• Fossil species succeed each other in a definitive, recognizable order.

What is paleomagnetism used for?

• To identify fossil species in rock layers.

• To study the layering of sedimentary rocks.

• To determine the orientation of the Earth's magnetic field in rocks.

• To measure the radioactive decay of isotopes.

Which of the following is an example of a parent isotope?

• 13C

• 14N

• 12C

• 14C

What is the purpose of using index fossils?

• To measure the magnetic field of rocks.

• To correlate rock layers across large areas.

• To determine the absolute age of rocks.

• To identify the chemical composition of rocks.

Which dating method is suitable for materials beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating?

• Optical stimulating luminescence

• Electron Spin Resonance

• K-Ar dating

• Radiocarbon dating