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Fossils themselves can very rarely be dated by any means...their age is usually judged by the geological assessment of the area and layer in which they are found

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What two methods are used to determine the age of a rock?

The two methods are relative dating and radioactive dating for fossils. I think it's the same for rocks.


Do index fossils tell the relative or absolute age of fossils?

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 are two ways geologists determine the age of fossils?

The two methods are "RELATIVE DATING" and "ABSOLUTE DATING". :)


How are stratigraphic and radioactive dating different in regards to how they date fossils?

Radioactive dating refers to the process of measuring the age of an object using the amount of a given radioactive material it contains. Relative dating, meanwhile, measures the order of past events, without determining their absolute age.


What is the age limit for radiocarbon dating of fossils?

The age limits for radiocarbon dating anything is about 100-40,000 years. However, to date the early hominid fossils that have been found in Africa scientists have used Argon/Argon dating to date the volcanic lava and ash it was buried between. The age limits of Argon/Argon dating are 1,000 to the oldest rocks on earth. Generally, you never really date the item of interest when figuring out the age. You will date items that it was used with, buried with, cooked with, etc. Many different dating methods are used to date the items and the age limits vary between each method.

Related Questions

How is carbon-14 dating used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils?

Carbon-14 dating is not used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils. Instead, scientists use other methods like radiometric dating, such as uranium-lead dating or potassium-argon dating, to estimate the age of dinosaur fossils. These methods rely on the decay of radioactive isotopes in the fossils to calculate their age.


What are two of determining a fossils age?

The two methods are "RELATIVE DATING" and "ABSOLUTE DATING". :)


How is carbon dating used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils?

Carbon dating is not typically used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils because dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, beyond the range of carbon dating which is effective up to about 50,000 years. Instead, other methods like radiometric dating are used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in the fossils.


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 is a way to determine the actual age of fossils?

Scientists can determine the actual age of fossils using radiometric dating methods, such as carbon-14 dating for relatively young fossils or uranium-lead dating for older fossils. These methods measure the decay of radioactive isotopes in the fossil to calculate its age with a high degree of accuracy.


What are the current methods for measuring the age of earth and its parts?

The age of Earth is measured using radiometric dating techniques on rocks, such as uranium-lead dating and potassium-argon dating. For specific parts of Earth, scientists may use a combination of methods including stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and fossil dating. These techniques help determine the age of various geological features, such as rocks, minerals, and fossils.


How does relative dating enable palenteologists to estimate a fossils age?

by comparing its placement with that of fossils in other layers of rock


What dating method determines a fossil's age by comparing it to other fossils?

The dating method that determines a fossil's age by comparing it to other fossils is called relative dating. This technique involves placing fossils in a chronological sequence based on their position within sedimentary rock layers, known as strata. By examining the sequence and the types of fossils present, scientists can infer the relative ages of the fossils in relation to one another. Relative dating does not provide an exact age but rather indicates whether a fossil is older or younger than another.


Can radiocarbon dating be used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils?

No, radiocarbon dating cannot be used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils because the half-life of carbon-14 is too short for dating objects that are millions of years old. Instead, other dating methods like uranium-lead dating or potassium-argon dating are used for dating dinosaur fossils.


True or False Fossils may be dated by either the relative dating method which determines the relative order of fossils or by the absolute dating method which uses radioactive isotopes?

True. Fossils can be dated using both relative dating methods, which determine the sequence of events in which fossils occurred, and absolute dating methods, which rely on radioactive isotopes to calculate the age of fossils.


What kind of dating does an paleontologist use?

Paleontologists use relative dating techniques to determine the age of fossils based on their position in rock layers. They also use radiometric dating methods to determine the absolute age of fossils by analyzing the decay of radioactive isotopes within the fossils.


Dating technique involving compraring fossils in rock layers?

Relative dating-comparing fossils related to how old other fossils are in the same sample of rock. If the rock has been undisturbed, the oldest rock will be at the bottom, therefore, the oldest fossils will also be at the bottom. the youngest rock will be at the top, therefore, the youngest fossils will be at the top. Absolute Dating-When you can figure out through testing the exact age of the fossil