relative and absolute dating Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

relative dating

A

a method to determine the age of rocks in each layer by identifying the relative order of previous events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

law of superposition

A

the youngest rocks are located at the top while the oldest rocks are at the bottom of an undisturbed sedimentary strata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

law of cross-cutting relationship

A

states that the geological structure, such as fault, erosion, or intrusion, is younger than the rock it disrupts if it cuts across rock layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

law of inclusions

A

refers to fragments of one rock unit that are enclosed within another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

condition of law of inclusions

A

these inclusions must be older than the rock containing it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

law of faunal succession

A

states that fossil assemblages in sedimentary rocks follow a predictable sequence over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

law of original horizontally

A

suggests that sediments are originally deposited in horizontal layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

absolute dating

A

provides numerical ages for rock layers by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in minerals within those rocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

tree rings

A

the age of a tree is found by counting its rings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

radiometric dating

A

calculating absolute ages of rocks and minerals that contain radioactive isotopes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

varves

A

any sediment layer that shows a yearly cycle. varves are often seen in glacial lakes dating back to ice age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly