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A hollow drill is used to collect samples of glacial ice. Ice accumulates in yearly layers, much like the rings on a tree, and the age of the ice can sometimes be found by simply counting the rings when the ice was recently formed and the impurities in the air left distinct differences in the color or transparency of the annual ice deposits. The age of older ice, which is deeper and under higher pressure due to the mass of the ice on top of it, cannot be calculated visually or with accuracy. The age may be estimated by the presence of volcanic ash that can be correlated to known eruptions, by ice flow rates, and by other chemical and composition changes resulting from temperature variations. Glacial ice accumulation rates based on climatology data may include temperature variations during Earth's many known cycles of global warming and cooling over thousands of years.

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Q: How can glaciers be used to determine geologic time?
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How can the principles of stratigraphy be used to do relative age dating?

Geologists generally know the age of a rock by determining the age of the group of rocks, or formation, that it is found in. The age of formations is marked on a geologic calendar known as the geologic time scale. Development of the geologic time scale and dating of formations and rocks relies upon two fundamentally different ways of telling time: relative and absolute.


What dating were used to determine the subdivisions of geologic time?

Rocks contain what we call "Clocks" these can be minerals which are resistant to weathering such as Zircon. They are used to estimate absolute ages of Geological structures.Using these clocks combined with the Geological events i.e drastic Changes to the earths environment leading especially to extinction of specific animal species eg.Dinasours and the type of Organisms that existed at that time,the geological time scale is born


The standard method used to divide the earths long natural history into managable parts?

geologic time scale


What basic rules or principles are followed when unraveling Earth's history?

The basic rule of geologic age is the law of superposition. This states that the most geologic recent layers are those at the top, the oldest at the bottom. Additionally, index fossils, those of rapidly evolving organisms, can be correlated to a specific range of geologic time. The rate of radioactive decay in certain elements is also used to determine an accurate age of material. Additionally, some degree of dating or rocks is made by the magnetic orientation of certain magnetic minerals they contain, which correlates with the magnetic orientation of the Earth at the time of their creation.


What are the guidelines used to determine the relative ages of the rocks and events shown by a geologic cross section?

The guidelines used to determine the relative ages of the rocks and events shown by a geologic cross-section is the Law of Superposition. It is the basic law of geochronology.

Related questions

What are the guidelines used to determine the relative age of a rocks and events shown by a geologic cross-section?

The guidelines used to determine the relative ages of the rocks and events shown by a geologic cross-section is the Law of Superposition. It is the basic law of geochronology.


Why is the geologic time scale used to show the Earth's history?

because the time span of earth past is so great geologic


What must be done to determine which mining method should be used?

A geologic survey to determine depth, amounts, and direction of ore bearing minerals.


How can the principles of stratigraphy be used to do relative age dating?

Geologists generally know the age of a rock by determining the age of the group of rocks, or formation, that it is found in. The age of formations is marked on a geologic calendar known as the geologic time scale. Development of the geologic time scale and dating of formations and rocks relies upon two fundamentally different ways of telling time: relative and absolute.


What methods did geologist used when they first developed the geologic time scale?

The methods the geologists used when they first developed the geologic time scale. Were studying rock layers and index fossils worldwide. By Patrick


What dating were used to determine the subdivisions of geologic time?

Rocks contain what we call "Clocks" these can be minerals which are resistant to weathering such as Zircon. They are used to estimate absolute ages of Geological structures.Using these clocks combined with the Geological events i.e drastic Changes to the earths environment leading especially to extinction of specific animal species eg.Dinasours and the type of Organisms that existed at that time,the geological time scale is born


How do you use the word geologic record in a sentence?

More often used is the term geochronology: dating the formation of rocks in geology.The geochrony of a rock can reveal when a layer of rock was formed.Geologic folding can sometimes confuse the geochrony of a rock formation.


What type of dating would be used to determine the age of rocks by using the fossil?

By using the geologic time scale. Certain organisms are only found during certain times and if a fossil of one of these organisms is found then you can determine the relative age of the fossil.


Why is geologic time scale used to show earths history?

because the time span of earth past is so great geologic


How is the geologic used in relative dating?

The geologic column is the result of the core sample showing layers of artifacts and material. Since some of these can be carbon dated, a relative time period can be established.


What is an organism used to identify a specific geologic time period called?

It's called an index fossil.


What is relative time used to determine?

Relative time is used to determine date on aging rocks. This helps scientists determine the period of time a rock originated.