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What would be the two methods of dating fossils and explain each?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
relative and absolute. relative is determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age. Absolute is the process of determining an approximate computed age in Archaeology and geology.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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To determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils geologists use?
They would look for evidence of index fossils, those of certain rapidly evolving creatures that lived during a specific time period. This method is called relative dating. For a closer estimation they would be able to date the rock using radiometric techniques that base its age on the degree of isotope decay . This method would reveal the much more specific absolute age.
How would a geologist determine the age of rock layers and fossils if the geologist found a never before seen rock layer that contain fossils?
First step would be relative-dating: examining the new unit in the context of known rocks above and below it. Then look for correlative formations & fossils elsewhere.
How would Alfred wegener explain fossils of warm weather plants found on actic island?
He stated that the island had moved and gone underneath all of the other continents then surfaced in the Arctic, along with the plants fossils/ remains
What is the process by which scientists match sedimentary strata to other rocks of different ages?
Its position in the stratigraphic column, particularly if there are any index fossils. if that fails, then radiometric dating techniques may be appropriate. There are a wide variety of radioisotopes to be used ranging from 14C (5700 years half life) through K-Ar, and to the various uranium series.
Why would uranium-238 not be useful in determining the age of a spear that is thought to be 5000 years old?
Uranium dating is useful for long periods of time - e.g. 109 years. For fossils is recommended the method with 12C.
Which method dating would you use with frozen fossils?
Among many methods, carbon dating is most commonly used to date fossils. In carbon dating, scientists look at how much carbon is left in the fossil, look at the half-life period, and use that to see when it was from.
To determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils geologists use?
They would look for evidence of index fossils, those of certain rapidly evolving creatures that lived during a specific time period. This method is called relative dating. For a closer estimation they would be able to date the rock using radiometric techniques that base its age on the degree of isotope decay . This method would reveal the much more specific absolute age.
How do people know dinosaurs lived?
Our most provident evidence would be carbon dating and fossils.
Why would a scientist use both relative and absolute dating?
They both help you understand fossils
Radiocarbon dating would be useful in dating the age of the earth?
Radiocarbon dating is not typically used to determine the age of the Earth because it can only accurately date organic materials up to around 50,000 years old. Other dating methods, such as radiometric dating of rocks and minerals, are used to estimate the age of the Earth, around 4.5 billion years.
How can the age of a rock be related to fossils?
If a lava flow or bed of volcanic ash was dated using isotopic dating methods and fossils were found in a sedimentary rock beneath the volcanic rock, it can be surmised that the fossils were older than the lava or ash. If the same species of fossils were found in another part of the world it would make sense that the rocks there were the same age as previous fossils. By cross checking with many other areas with other volcanic rocks, it can be found that all the rocks around the world containing those fossils were of a similar age.
Where can you find the oldest fossils in sedimentary rock layers?
It would be found in the lower layers, rather that younger fossils which are found in the upper layers. ♥
How would a geologist determine the age of rock layers and fossils if the geologist found a never before seen rock layer that contain fossils?
First step would be relative-dating: examining the new unit in the context of known rocks above and below it. Then look for correlative formations & fossils elsewhere.
How would Alfred wegener explain fossils of warm weather plants found on actic island?
He stated that the island had moved and gone underneath all of the other continents then surfaced in the Arctic, along with the plants fossils/ remains
How would you explain a horizontal sedimentary rock layer containing Cambrian fossils lying on top of a rock layer containing Ordovician fossils?
The Adirondack rocks have been both severely folded and sheared by ductile deformation and shattered by brittle.
What is the process by which scientists match sedimentary strata to other rocks of different ages?
Its position in the stratigraphic column, particularly if there are any index fossils. if that fails, then radiometric dating techniques may be appropriate. There are a wide variety of radioisotopes to be used ranging from 14C (5700 years half life) through K-Ar, and to the various uranium series.
What are some methods of identifying the age of fossils?
it can be matched to another fossil that can be visually identified as being from the same animal, and then can be matched up to the period the animal lived...or the second method would be to do a radio carbon dating test....but the fossil would have to be fairly old because the carbon dating can tell you how old something is within a few thousand years.
