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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.
Kamron Roberts
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∙ 10y agoIndex fossils are fossils that are ideally widespread, aboundant and occur in a short period of geologic time.
Their occurrence in sedimentary rocks is taken as an indication for their biostratigraphic age. Over time, Geoscientists developed schemes for the sequence of the occurrences of numerous index fossils. These schemes are independent of absolute time, because they only describe, where in the sequence of index fossils a certain fossil occurs, e.g. in the Jurassic. Therefore, index fossils are markers of relative time intervals.
The intervals, in which index fossils occur, have been linked to absolute ages by radiometric dating. These absolute ages are subject to change, as analytical methods become more precise.
Theoretically, many index fossils can be dated radiometrically (e.g. traces of lead in carbonate fossils). Such datings are unlikely to be precise enough to add knowledge about the age of the fossil, because index fossils are placed in an absolute time frame which is derived from the dating of materials, whose ages can be measured which great precision and accuracy.
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∙ 15y agoIndex fossils indicate the relative age of rocks and fossils found in certain sedimentary formations.
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∙ 11y agoyes i do like potatoes
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∙ 12y agoRelative I think
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∙ 8y agoYes, it is true.
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∙ 11y agoeverything
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Why are index fossils so important to geologists?
Index fossils are very important to geologists because they identify geological time periods. Index fossils are found within a specific layer of rock- So when one finds the age of the rock layer, that is also the age of the index fossil.
What do scientists use to mark boundaries in the geologic time scale?
I'm thinking it's index fossils because index fossils tell when or how old the layer it was found in. If that's what your asking.
How are fossils used in determining the age of the Earth?
Index
How does a index fossil tell you how old a nearby fossil is?
Rock is divided into layers (strata). Each stratum (layer) is different from the other, containing differences between them, and this is essential to determine what era does each belong to. For example, one strata could be rich in sea life fossils like mollusks and arthropods, thus one could roughly estimate the layer to belong to the Middle Cambrian period. A stratum rich in leaf and plant fossils, on the other hand, would suggest it to belong to the Devonian period. There's a science that studies strata, and that's stratigraphy. I am obviously explaining this in a very simple way, as there are many other factors to consider, but this is the essential.
All motion is relative?
All motion is relative. The question "is this object moving?" is in fact meaningless unless we specify "moving relative to what other object". Similarly, there is no such thing as "absolute rest": it's just as true to say that the road is moving at 50 km/h relative to your car as it is to say that your car is moving at 50 km/h relative to the road.
Why are index fossils so important to geologists?
Index fossils are very important to geologists because they identify geological time periods. Index fossils are found within a specific layer of rock- So when one finds the age of the rock layer, that is also the age of the index fossil.
How can fossils be used to date the rock in the strata?
Because index fossils are useful because they tell the relative ages of the rock layers in which they occur. They also tell what year they were made.
What do scientists use to mark boundaries in the geologic time scale?
I'm thinking it's index fossils because index fossils tell when or how old the layer it was found in. If that's what your asking.
What information can index fossils give geologists?
Index fossils can tell scientists if an animal or plant was alive in a certain period of time. They may also tell scientists what time period a certain rock layer formed.
How are fossils used in determining the age of the Earth?
Index
How do you tell which fossils are older?
one way is to see which fossil is deeper in the ground but it only tells which fossils are older it has no givem date
Does radioactive dating tell the relative age of rocks?
No. Radioactive dating is an absolute dating tool.
How does operating system tell whether the path name for a file is absolute or relative to a working directory?
Most relative directories are preceded by a period (.)
What is relative and absolute age?
Absolute- Actual Age of a rock Relative- The age of something compared to other things Relative age does not tell how old something is but tells us in what order events have happened relative- the age of a rock or fossil compared to the surrounding rocks and fossil
How are fossils important to scientist?
They tell us about past environments and may be used to date rocks on a relative time scale.
Index fossils allow geologists to?
the first reason is to tell the age of the rocksecond is to compare itMatch rocks of the same age in diffrent regions
What is the relative location for the Midwest in us?
somebody find out relative and I'll tell absolute and don't just say I'm working on it because that's not the right answer
