answersLogoWhite

0

You can date rocks less than about 600 million years old using fossils (provided they have fossils in them). This gives you a relative age based on the evolution of species.

To obtain an absolute age one uses radio isotope dating, a technique based on the half life of the decay of radioactive elements in the rocks.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

List four ways geologists classify rocks?

sedimentary,metormorphic , igneous .........


What are the 4 ways that geologists classify rocks?

Geologists classify rocks based on their origin (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), grain size (fine-grained, coarse-grained), mineral composition (feldspar-rich, quartz-rich), and texture (foliated, non-foliated).


Scientists classify rocks by?

Scientists classify rocks based on their mineral composition, texture, and how they were formed. These classifications help geologists understand the history and properties of rocks. There are three main categories for classifying rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.


What do scientists classify rocks into what one of the three main categories by?

Scientists classify rocks into three main categories - sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic - based on how they are formed. Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and solidification of sediments, igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, and metamorphic rocks are formed from the alteration of existing rocks through heat and pressure.


What are the characteristics Scientists use to classify rocks?

Scientists classify rocks based on their mineral composition, texture, and origin. Mineral composition refers to the types and relative amounts of minerals present in the rock. Texture relates to the size and arrangement of the mineral grains, while origin refers to how the rock was formed (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic).