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Q: How can index fossils help us figure out how the continents used to be arranged?
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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.


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.


How the principle of uniformitarianism and evidence from index fossils supports the existence of Pangaea?

well cant say how uniformitarianism would support it but as far as index fossils go think about the fact that a for a single species to survive on multiple continents at same time it would need the same environment and apparently its not the case now but Pangaea was a single continent @ one place with single environment. so if any index fossils spread across multiple continents point towards them being of same environment and the most logical explanation is them being at the similar lat-long which sort of points us towards the idea that is Pangaea!


Index fossils include graptolites?

Ordovician Period


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.

Related questions

Why are index fossils useful for figure out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers?

index fossils are useful for figuring out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers by index fossils are used to determine when rock layers were formed so if they were used to figure out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers than they can also figure out when they were formed .


Why are index fossils are more useful to paleontologists than many other fossils?

im trying to figure that out myself


Fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

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 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.


Why are index fossils more useful then other fossils to paleontologist?

It is because the index fossils has better minds than the paleontologist.


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.


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.


What is fossils organisms that lived a short period of time called?

They are called index fossils.


What fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

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)


Why did scientists use trilobites as index fossils?

Trilobites were rapidly evolving and widespread organisms, making them ideal index fossils.


What fossils are useful in determining the relative age of rocks?

Index fossils