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It is difficult to determine the absolute age of a sedimentary rock because sedimentary rocks are made up of diverse particles that are all different ages. As a result radioactive dating can only determine the age of the particles, not the whole rock.

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Velda Hauck

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What method do geologists to determine the absolute age of a rock?

Radioactive dating is used to determine the absolute ages of rocks. By Jennifer Palos


How does a geologist determine absolute age?

Geologists determine absolute age by using radiometric dating techniques that involve measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in rocks or minerals. By analyzing the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes in a sample, geologists can calculate the absolute age of the rock formation. This method provides a numerical age in years for the rock layer or mineral.


What method do geologists use to determined the absolute age of a rock?

Radioactive dating is used to determine the absolute ages of rocks. By Jennifer Palos


How can you determine the absolute age of an igneous rock?

Relative age can be determined using superposition and cross-cutting relationships. Absolute age can only be determined using radiometric dating methods, such as Rb-Sr.


What is the difference between the relative age and absolute age of rocks?

Relative age is the age of a rock relative to the rock layers around it, absolute age is a rock's exact age.


What does a scientist need to know to figure out the absolute age of rock?

They need to determine the amount of radioactive decay of a specific isotope in the rock since its formation.


How can the absolute age of a rock be determined?

The absolute age of a rock can be determined through radiometric dating methods, such as carbon dating or uranium-lead dating. These methods rely on the known rates of decay of radioactive isotopes within the rock to calculate how long it has been since the rock formed. By measuring the ratios of parent and daughter isotopes, scientists can determine the rock's absolute age.


Why is it difficult to dtermine the absolute age of a sedimentary rock?

In most cases, all we have to date are the clasts in the sedimentary rock. Dating the clasts, however, would yield the age of the source rock from which they were derived rather than the current sedimentary rock.


How fossils can be used to determine the absolute and relative age of a sedimentary rock layer?

Perhaps by carbon dating and by comparing with the evolution and dominance of various organisms in the geological time scale.


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 the primary technique for determining the absolute age of a rock?

well its do to the sediment in a rock by it layering


What indicates a certain body of rock of a specific age?

The fossils found in the rock layers indicate the age of the rock. By studying the index fossils and comparing them to known age ranges, geologists can determine the age of the rock layer. Other methods such as radiometric dating can also be used to determine the absolute age of the rock.