Free Printable Relative Dating and Rock Correlation

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Relative Dating and Rock Correlation

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name

Class

Date

Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?

trace fossil

index fossil

radioactive fossil

unconformity fossil

The index fossil of a type of trilobite is discovered in layer A of a set of rock layers found at three different sites of a field investigation. Which conclusion can be made about the rocks in layer A at all three sites?

The rocks are all different ages

The rocks are all about the same age

The rocks were formed from melting magma

The rocks were formed during a catastrophic event

Fossil remains of a trilobite are most likely to be found in which type of rock?

igneous

volcanic

sedimentary

metamorphic

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth's age, much like the rings of a tree.

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rocks, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

What lettered rock layer is the youngest?

Organisms that later became good index fossils lived over a

wide geographic area and existed for a long geologic time

wide geographic area and existed for a short geologic time

limited geographic area and existed for a long geologic time

limited geographic area and existed for a short geologic time

How does the law of crosscutting 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.

The rock formation labeled "P" is a(n)...

fault

igneous intrusion

inclusion

unconformity

Which fossil is considered an index fossil?

10.

When the rock layers in the three outcrops are correlated, the oldest layer is the

shale layer in outcrop I

siltstone layer in outcrop II

limestone layer in outcrop III

conglomerate layer in outcrop III

11.

When the rock layers at outcrops A, B, C, and D are correlated, which rock layer would be determined to be the oldest?

quartzite

marble

gneiss

sandstone

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Relative Dating and Rock Correlation

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 17mins

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