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that's easy, dirt is on the ground and over the yyears more dirt and rock cover it, subsequently every new layer of ground goes on top of the last one making the most current one the one top with other layers increasing in age as you go further down.

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12y ago
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14y ago

According to the Law of Superposition, in a depositional sequence of undisturbed rock layers, the top layer of rock is the most recent to form from the processes of lithification or eruption of lava onto the surface, and are therefore the youngest rock layers.

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damienwiseman

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3y ago

folding

sedimentation

erosion

or faulting

choose one

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Wiki User

12y ago

Strata maybe...

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Q: Why is the top layer the youngest in a sedimentary rock?
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When might the youngest layer in a set of sedimentary rock not be on top?

1. If a set of rock layers has been disturbed by movement of tectonic plates, the youngest layer may no longer be on top.


What layer is the youngest layer in the sedimentary rock?

The one closest to the surface because rock layers are laid down one on top of another.


Explain that folding faulting and uplifting can rearrange the rock layers so the youngest is not always found on top?

Whenfolding, faulting, and uplifting occurs, the youngest rock layer can not always be on top. With folding the oldest rock layer could get folded over on top of a younger layer. When faulting occurs a younger rock layer can become "lower" or pushed more down in the rock layers that was originally shown. When these things happen, then rock layers can become out of order and the youngest layer is not always on the top of the layer.


What rock layer is the youngest?

The principle of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the youngest will be at the top, the oldest at the bottom.


Why is the sedimentary rock layer at the bottom of a canyon older then a sedimentary rock layer at the top of a canyon?

As a rule, the oldest rocks of layered rock strata are always at the bottom, the youngest at the top. The rock at the bottom was the first to form. Layers of weathered and eroded particles (sediments) or igneous material in the form of lava, add additional weight over time, which causes the mass to sink and compress, forming new rock layers. When running water erodes a canyon, the geologic history of the land is revealed in the rock layers.

Related questions

Where is the youngest layer of sedimentary rock found?

On the top


When might the youngest layer in a set of sedimentary rock not be on top?

1. If a set of rock layers has been disturbed by movement of tectonic plates, the youngest layer may no longer be on top.


What layer is the youngest layer in the sedimentary rock?

The one closest to the surface because rock layers are laid down one on top of another.


Where is the youngest layer of rock found?

On the top


Why do rock fossils form in sedimentary rock and not in igneous rock?

because sedimentary rocks are on the top layer, while igneous rocks are were the magma is


Is the top layer of rock the youngest layer?

According to the Law of Superposition, in a depositional sequence of undisturbed rock layers, the top layer of rock is the most recent to form from the processes of lithification or eruption of lava onto the surface, and are therefore the youngest rock layers.


Explain that folding faulting and uplifting can rearrange the rock layers so the youngest is not always found on top?

Whenfolding, faulting, and uplifting occurs, the youngest rock layer can not always be on top. With folding the oldest rock layer could get folded over on top of a younger layer. When faulting occurs a younger rock layer can become "lower" or pushed more down in the rock layers that was originally shown. When these things happen, then rock layers can become out of order and the youngest layer is not always on the top of the layer.


What rock layer is the youngest?

The principle of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the youngest will be at the top, the oldest at the bottom.


Superposition can best be explained new layer on old layer?

Superposition is the theory that the rock layer that is on top is the youngest and the layer of rock on the bottom is the oldest.


Where in the crust would you find sedimentary rock?

The very top layer of crust.


Where is the youngest rock usually found?

in the middle of the ocean ridge


Which layer of rock would be expected to have had living animals and plants most like those of today?

The top layer. The top layer of any sedimentary rock is most likely the newest in geologic time.