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Can carbon dating be used to identify the age of index fossils?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
No. Carbon dating is only effective for time periods less than 70,000 years. This excludes all the major index fossils, and is a very short geologic time span. Index fossils can be dated, however by their association in the geologic column with metamorphic and igneous rocks, which can be radiometrically dated.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
No, carbon dating is not used to date index fossils. Carbon dating is only effective on organic materials up to about 50,000 years old, while index fossils are used to identify the age of rock layers and are typically much older. Index fossils are dated using relative dating techniques based on their position in the rock layers.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoYes, but only fossils old of max. 50 000 years.
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How do you tell which fossils are older?
Fossils found in deeper rock layers are typically older than those found in shallower layers. Scientists also use methods like radiometric dating to determine the age of fossils based on the decay of radioactive isotopes present in the fossils. Additionally, studying the index fossils that are typically associated with specific time periods can help determine the relative age of fossils.
How many limestone caves been formed?
It is estimated that there are over 100,000 limestone caves that have been formed worldwide. These caves are created through the process of dissolution, where acidic groundwater erodes the limestone rock over time to form intricate cave systems.
What criteria are used to identify index fossils?
An index fossil must be of a rapidly evolving organism that only existed for a specific period of time, is easily recognizable, is abundantly preserved, and was widespread geographically. Most index fossils are therefore of marine organisms.
Which type of dating uses index fossils?
Relative dating. Paleostratigraphy correlates layers of rock using index fossils found within them.
Why are index fossils so important to geologists?
Index fossils are very important to geologists because they identify geological time periods. Index fossils are found within a specific layer of rock- So when one finds the age of the rock layer, that is also the age of the index fossil.
Which are the remains of species that existed on Earth for relatively short periods of time were abundant and were wide spread geographically?
They are called index fossils, an aid to relative dating of rock.
Principle that allows rock layers in different places to be correlated based on their fossils?
Relative dating by index fossils.
What are the three criteria that must be met in order for a fossil to be considered an index fossil?
An index fossil is organisms that is a signature for certain geographical eras. Index fossils are a charting of time that is used to describe other organisms found in that time era. The fossils were found in the stones that are determinations by carbon indexing and therefore are index fossils.
What are index and what do geologists learn from them?
Index fossils are very important to geologists because they identify geological. The fossil snail is a particularly difficult animal to study.
Three examples of things that only apply to relative dating?
The principles of horizontality, superposition; and index fossils.
Do index fossils tell the relative or absolute age of fossils?
Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.
How are index fossils different from original fossil remains?
Index fossils are original fossil remains, just a specific subcategory of them. Index fossils are used by paleontologists to identify a particular period of time and often a subperiod of time - the specific fossil is chosen as an index fossil because it is very specific to a time period and allows the other fossils and remains around them to be identified to the same time period.
What do scientists use index fossils for?
Geologists use index fossils to define and identify geologic periods.
Fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?
index fossils
