Stratigraphy and Fossil Records

Question 1

Strata

Answer 1

A layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground

Question 2

How can fossils be used to date strata?

Answer 2

The fossils within the stratum are dated, and this can be used to figure out the age of the stratum itself.

Question 3

Why is the process of dating strata with fossils reliable?

Answer 3

Strata contain fossilized flora andfauna, and these fossils succeed each other vertically in a specific, reliable order.

Question 4

Correlation

Answer 4

The technique of piecing together information from widely separated rock outcrops in order to create an accurate chronological profile and formation history.

Question 5

Why is correlation useful?

Answer 5

It helps to determine if rocks formed at the same time and under the same conditions

Question 6

Index Fossils

Answer 6

Fossils of organisms that lived during a specific time period and are widespread enough to be used as indicators of the age of rocks and sediments

Question 7

What requirements does something have to meet to be an index fossil?

Answer 7

• Existed on Earth for a short time period
• Have a wide geographic distribution
• Rapid evolutionary trends (change rapidly)

Question 8

Stratigraphy

Answer 8

The process used to determine the relative age of structures and sequence the fossil record