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Geologists use radiometric dating of the igneous rock units above and below the sedimentary layer to establish a time range for the sedimentary rock. They assume that the sedimentary layers are younger than the underlying igneous rock and older than the overlying igneous rock, based on the principle of superposition. This allows them to estimate the age of the sedimentary layer by determining the ages of the surrounding igneous rocks.

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To date a sedimentary rock layer between two igneous rock units geologists use radiometric dating and assume that the sedimentary layer and age .?

To date a sedimentary rock layer between two igneous rock units, geologists typically use radiometric dating on the igneous rocks above and below the sedimentary layer. They assume that the sedimentary layer was formed after the lower igneous layer and before the upper igneous layer, thus establishing a relative age. The ages obtained from the igneous rocks provide a minimum and maximum age for the sedimentary layer, allowing geologists to estimate its age within that timeframe. This technique relies on the principle of stratigraphy and the law of superposition.


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.


List four ways geologists classify rocks?

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


Which dating method enables scientists to measure or estimate the absolute age of sedimentary rock?

Radiometric dating of igneous rocks that relate to the sedimentary rock


Why is radiometric dating less useful to date sedimentary rocks than igneous rocks?

Radiometric dating is less useful for dating sedimentary rocks because they are made up of material that has been transported and deposited from other sources, making the age of the sedimentary rock different from the age of the material within it. Igneous rocks directly crystallize from magma and accurately retain the age of their formation through radiometric dating.


What are the three main categories into which geologists classify rocks?

The three main categories into which geologists classify rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and lithification of sediments. Metamorphic rocks are created from the alteration of pre-existing rocks due to high temperature and pressure.


Why radiometric dating cannot be used directly in measuring sedimentary rocks?

Radiometric dating cannot be used directly on sedimentary rocks because they are composed of particles derived from pre-existing rocks and minerals, which may have different ages. This process can lead to a mixture of ages in the sediment, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific formation date. Additionally, sedimentary rocks often form through processes that do not preserve the original radiometric signatures of the parent materials. Instead, geologists typically date the igneous or metamorphic rocks surrounding sedimentary layers to provide a relative age for the sediments.


What is an igneous intrusion between two sedimentary rock layers?

A laccolith is an igneous formation between two sedimentary layers


How do you Find the age of a fossil in a layer of sedimentary rock between 2 igneous extrusions?

To find the age of a fossil in sedimentary rock between two igneous extrusions, you can use the principle of relative dating. The igneous extrusions, being younger than the sedimentary layers they cut through, provide a time frame. By dating the extrusions using radiometric dating methods, you can establish a range for the age of the sedimentary layers and the fossil within. Additionally, you can apply biostratigraphy by correlating the fossil with known ages of similar fossils in other locations.


Scientists date igneous rocks to indirectly date nearby sedimentary rocks Why doesn't radiometric dating typically work on sedimentary rocks?

Radiometric dating relies on the presence of radioactive isotopes that decay over time into stable isotopes. Sedimentary rocks are composed of weathered fragments of other rocks and minerals, so they do not usually contain the necessary radioactive isotopes for radiometric dating. This makes it difficult to directly date sedimentary rocks using radiometric methods.


How would you know the difference between igneous and sedimentary and metamorphic rock?

Igneous rocks form from cooling and solidification of magma or lava, sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation and cementation of sediment, and metamorphic rocks form from the alteration of existing rock through heat and pressure. By examining the texture, mineral composition, and sedimentary structures present in a rock sample, geologists can determine whether it is igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.


What is the difference between basaltic and frantic igneous rock?

There sedimentary igneous and metemorphic