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Stratigraphic layers can be used to determine the age of a fossil in a simple manner. The layers towards the top of an outcrop are younger (Law of Superposition and Law of Original Horizontality) and the layers near the bottom are older. If a fossil is found in a lower layer then that fossil is older than any fossils found in the higher up layers.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoWell in a round about way, many scientists use circular reasoning to date fossils. They find a fossil in a layer that a scientist has dated. Then they date the layer by the fossil. Then another fossil is found in the layer, and they date the fossil by the layer. It is a very inaccurate and unscientific way of going about things, but that is what many scientists do.
By the way, if you date a rock using several different methods, many times you will get extreme differences in the age of the rock. This proves that the dating methods are not very accurate.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe farther down the fossil is the older it gets.
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What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rock?
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.
What is a fossil used to date surrounding rock layers called?
Index fossils.
Explain how geologic time is recorded in rock layers?
The strata of sedimentary rock can contain fossils which are peculiar to a specific geologic time. These fossils are referred to as index fossils. Some rock layers also record events such as meteor strikes and periods of volcanism through the deposition of sediments. Igneous rocks in particular contain certain mineral crystals which can be used to provide a radiometric fingerprint of their period of formation.
How is geologic time recorded in rock layers?
The strata of sedimentary rock can contain fossils which are peculiar to a specific geologic time. These fossils are referred to as index fossils. Some rock layers also record events such as meteor strikes and periods of volcanism through the deposition of sediments. Igneous rocks in particular contain certain mineral crystals which can be used to provide a radiometric fingerprint of their period of formation.
How can fossils be used to date rocks?
Geologists look for index fossils in the sedimentary rock to help determine its age. Index fossils are of organisms that were widespread and only existed during a specific slice of geologic time. Finding an index fossil in a rock means that the rock dates to that specific slice of time.
What kind of rock layers did index fossil date?
index fossils are used to date the rock layers they are found incc
How are sedimentary rock layers used be scientists to learn about the past?
plant and animal fossils are most often found in layers of sedimentary rocks
What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?
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.
What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rock?
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.
What are index fossil and how are they used to determined the absolute age of sedimentary rock?
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.
What is a fossil used to date surrounding rock layers called?
Index fossils.
How are sedimentary rock used by scientists to learn about the past?
Sedimentary rock layers are used by scientist help learn by the texture and shapes
How are sedimentary rock layers used by scientists to learn about the past?
Sedimentary rock layers are used by scientist help learn by the texture and shapes
How is the law of superposition is used to date fossils?
Superposition is the methodology of younger sediments being deposited over older rocks. Paleontologists can determine the evolution or extinction of a species by looking at what fossils are either present or absent in a particular sedimentary layer.
Fossils that can be used to establish relative dates are most likely to be found in?
sedimentary rocks.
What two things did 19th century scientists do to determine the relative age of sedimentary rock all over the world?
They studied fossils and applied the principle that old layers of rock are below young layers! -
Explain how geologic time is recorded in rock layers?
The strata of sedimentary rock can contain fossils which are peculiar to a specific geologic time. These fossils are referred to as index fossils. Some rock layers also record events such as meteor strikes and periods of volcanism through the deposition of sediments. Igneous rocks in particular contain certain mineral crystals which can be used to provide a radiometric fingerprint of their period of formation.
