Carbon-14. An isotope of Carbon-12 that is used in a process called "Carbon Dating".
they find the hard part of the fossil
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An index fossil.
Because if you know how old the fossil is, and you find the fossil inside a rock, you know that rock has a maxium age corresponding with the age of the fossil.
An index fossil. An index fossil's age is known, allowing scientists to know the relative age of other fossils based on their position relative to the index fossil. (Ex. If a fossil is deeper in the earth, it is older than the index fossil)
they find the hard part of the fossil
Fossils help geologists discover new species. Fossils also explain and show the age of the specimen and change in life forms.
That would be a fossil.
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Geologists often use relative dating. When a fossil is found in a rock layer that has been dated, they know the age. If the fossil is found between two dated rock layers, they have an approximate age. If it's found above a dated layer, than it's younger, and vice versa. To date a layer of rock, radiometric dating is used. This measures the trace amount of a radioactive isotope, such as a uranium isotope or potassium isotope, which is then compared to its decay product, lead or argon, respectively, for these examples. More decay product and less of the original isotope means the layer is older, and vice versa. Index fossils can also be used. These are common fossils with a wide distribution that only existed for a short time. Then, when these are found in a rock layer, it is known that the rock layer formed when that organism existed.
An index fossil.
There are two methods used to determine the age of a rock or fossil. The first is carbon dating and the second is radiometric dating.
Because if you know how old the fossil is, and you find the fossil inside a rock, you know that rock has a maxium age corresponding with the age of the fossil.
- to determine the chemical nature of a rock - to determine the age of a rock by comparison
An index fossil. An index fossil's age is known, allowing scientists to know the relative age of other fossils based on their position relative to the index fossil. (Ex. If a fossil is deeper in the earth, it is older than the index fossil)
Relative dating refers to the process of determining the age of a rock, feature, or fossil by comparing it to the rocks around it. To use relative dating, you need to look at the order each rock layer was deposited.
Absolute age is the definite age of a fossil, while relative age is an estimated age according to the sediments and other fossils around the fossil.