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Scientists use sedimentary rock to determine a fossil relative age by studying the rock.

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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.


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.


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.


How do scientists determine history by using fossils and sedimentary layers?

Geologists and paleontologists look for index fossils in rock strata. These index fossils appear only in rocks of a certain age. Finding them lets the scientist know the approximate age range of a rock formation. Layers of sedimentary rock will also aid the scientist is determining the climate from that age, of any volcanism that may have taken place, the lifeforms that existed, and even find evidence of catastrophic events such as asteroid collisions that may have led to extinction events.


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.

Related Questions

Fossils that can be used to establish relative dates are most likely to be found in?

Sedimentary rocks, which form in layers over time, are most likely to contain fossils that can be used to establish relative dates. Fossils found in these rocks provide a record of the organisms that lived at specific times in Earth's history, allowing scientists to determine the relative age of the rock layers.


How can scientists determine the relative age of rocks and fossils an area?

nunya


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.


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.


What two things did 19th century scientists do to determine the relative age of sedimentary rock all over the world?

They studied fossils and applied the principle that old layers of rock are below young layers! -


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.


Which is an example of relative dating?

One example of relative dating is studying the layers of rock in a particular area. By analyzing the sequence of rock layers and the fossils within them, scientists can determine the relative ages of the rocks and the fossils they contain.


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.


Fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

Index fossils are used to compare the relative ages of fossils. These are fossils that are known to have lived during a specific time period, helping to date the rock layers in which they are found. By identifying and comparing index fossils, scientists can determine the relative ages of different rock layers and fossils.


What two things did 19th century scientists do to determine the relative ages of sedimentary rock all over the world?

19th-century scientists used principles of stratigraphy to determine relative ages of sedimentary rock, employing the law of superposition and the principle of faunal succession. The law of superposition states that younger rock layers are deposited on top of older ones, while the principle of faunal succession relies on the observation that fossils in rock layers follow a consistent pattern.


Can fossils be used to determine the relative ages of rocks layers?

fossils can be used to determine the relative age of rock layer by using the classification of fossils to find the relative ages of rocks in which fossils are found. :] hoped i helped you out.


How do you see a sedimentary rocks age by looking at the fossils?

Find out what era the Fossil was from and then you can put a relative date on the sedimentary rock, assuming that the fossil was preserved in the sedimentary rock when it had died. It would not be the actual age because you need to date the radioactive isotopes for that.