sedimentary layer ㅡㅡ
a layer of rock
This is Shale, a Sedimentary rock.
Unconformity
The bottom layer of a sedimentary rock is called the basal layer. This layer is considered the coarsest in the rock.
A single layer of sedimentary rock is called a "bed." Beds can vary in thickness and can be identified based on their distinct characteristics such as composition and sedimentary structures.
The youngest layer of sedimentary rock is typically found at the top of a sedimentary rock sequence, as it is the most recently deposited layer. This layer is usually exposed on the Earth's surface, such as in river valleys or coastal areas, where erosion may have removed older layers above it.
Clay
because sedimentary rocks are on the top layer, while igneous rocks are were the magma is
Geologists use radiometric dating of the igneous rock units above and below the sedimentary layer to establish a time range for the sedimentary rock. They assume that the sedimentary layers are younger than the underlying igneous rock and older than the overlying igneous rock, based on the principle of superposition. This allows them to estimate the age of the sedimentary layer by determining the ages of the surrounding igneous rocks.
Unconformity
To date a sedimentary rock layer between two igneous rock units, geologists typically use radiometric dating on the igneous rocks above and below the sedimentary layer. They assume that the sedimentary layer was formed after the lower igneous layer and before the upper igneous layer, thus establishing a relative age. The ages obtained from the igneous rocks provide a minimum and maximum age for the sedimentary layer, allowing geologists to estimate its age within that timeframe. This technique relies on the principle of stratigraphy and the law of superposition.
The layer of sedimentary rock that was deposited first is typically the lowest layer in a sedimentary sequence, known as the "oldest" layer. According to the principle of superposition, in undisturbed sedimentary rock formations, the layers are arranged with the oldest at the bottom and the youngest at the top. This means that the first layer deposited is usually the one furthest down in the sequence. However, geological events like folding or faulting can complicate this arrangement.