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It is possible in very rare circumstances. Radiometric dating is used mostly on minerals of igenous and metamorphic rocks. It is thus possible to get an absolute age of layers of volcanic ash or quite a good age estimate for sediments into which volcanic bombs or lapilli fell because their age of sedimentation is essentially their age of crystallization.
It is impossible, though, to derive absolute ages of sedimentation from dating of minerals e.g. in sandstones, because those dates would give you an information about when the rock that was eroded to become the sandstone was formed.
Quite recently people have succeeded in dating carbonate rocks via the small amounts of uranium that are incorporated in the carbonate minerals (not usually a sedimentary layer but still a sediment). High precision radiometric dates are derived from carbonate corals and speleothems as well using the decay chain of Uranium over Thorium (and other elements) to lead.
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What type of rock is most useful historical geologists?
Sedimentary rocks are most useful for historical geologists because they can contain fossils and provide information about past environments and the Earth's history. Sedimentary rocks also often preserve layers that can be used to determine the relative age of rock formations.
Where can you find the oldest fossils in sedimentary rock layers?
The oldest fossils are typically found in the deepest sedimentary rock layers, which are located at the bottom of a rock formation. This principle is known as the law of superposition in geology, where older rock layers are found beneath younger ones.
What do Geologists use radiometric dating to date sedimentary rock?
Geologists use radiometric dating of volcanic ash layers within sedimentary rock to determine the age of the sedimentary rock. By dating the igneous rock layers above and below the sedimentary rock, geologists can establish a bracket of time within which the sedimentary rock was deposited.
How do fossils help geologists?
Geologists use fossils to interpret past environments, age rock layers, and understand the history of life on Earth. Fossils can provide information about the evolution of species, past climate conditions, and even the movement of continents over time. By studying fossils, geologists can reconstruct the Earth's history and better understand geological processes.
What is the Principle is based on the fossils found in the different layers of sediment formations?
The principle is known as the Law of Superposition. It states that in undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the oldest rocks are found at the bottom and the youngest rocks are found at the top. This principle helps geologists determine the relative ages of rock layers and the fossils they contain.
What type of rock is most useful historical geologists?
Sedimentary rocks are most useful for historical geologists because they can contain fossils and provide information about past environments and the Earth's history. Sedimentary rocks also often preserve layers that can be used to determine the relative age of rock formations.
Where can you find the oldest fossils in sedimentary rock layers?
The oldest fossils are typically found in the deepest sedimentary rock layers, which are located at the bottom of a rock formation. This principle is known as the law of superposition in geology, where older rock layers are found beneath younger ones.
What do Geologists use radiometric dating to date sedimentary rock?
Geologists use radiometric dating of volcanic ash layers within sedimentary rock to determine the age of the sedimentary rock. By dating the igneous rock layers above and below the sedimentary rock, geologists can establish a bracket of time within which the sedimentary rock was deposited.
What type of rocks form in layers and have fossils in them?
sedimentary
How do fossils help geologists?
Geologists use fossils to interpret past environments, age rock layers, and understand the history of life on Earth. Fossils can provide information about the evolution of species, past climate conditions, and even the movement of continents over time. By studying fossils, geologists can reconstruct the Earth's history and better understand geological processes.
What is the Principle is based on the fossils found in the different layers of sediment formations?
The principle is known as the Law of Superposition. It states that in undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the oldest rocks are found at the bottom and the youngest rocks are found at the top. This principle helps geologists determine the relative ages of rock layers and the fossils they contain.
By comparing fossils in higher sedimentary layers with fossils in lower sedimentary layers scientists can learn what?
By comparing fossils in higher sedimentary layers with fossils in lower sedimentary layers, scientists can learn about the relative ages of the fossils. This helps in understanding the sequence of events in Earth's history and the evolutionary relationships between different species.
Are sedimentary rocks characterised by having layers and fossils?
Yes
What is sedimentary rock dating?
Sedimentary rock dating refers to methods used to determine the age of sedimentary rocks and the sediments they contain. This is often achieved through relative dating techniques, such as stratigraphy, which examines the layers of rock and their sequence, as well as through radiometric dating of interbedded volcanic layers or fossils within the sediment. By analyzing the position of rock layers and the types of fossils found, geologists can construct a timeline of geological events. However, direct radiometric dating of sedimentary rocks is challenging due to their composite nature.
What is the theory of sedimntary rock layers tend to be younger and than the layers below them is called?
The theory that sedimentary rock layers are generally younger than the layers beneath them is known as the Law of Superposition. This geological principle states that in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the younger layers are at the top. This ordering helps geologists determine the relative ages of rock formations and the fossils they contain.
How do sedimentary rock layers provide clues to a fossil age?
because fossils are in sedimentary rock
How are sedimentary rock layers used be scientists to learn about the past?
plant and animal fossils are most often found in layers of sedimentary rocks
