answersLogoWhite

0

If you know how many stripes away from the mid-ocean ridge the rock is and you know how frequently the earth's poles flip you can use the stripes like rings on a tree to measure the age of that rock.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What are the 3 lines of evidence for sea-floor spreading?

Magnetic striping: alternating patterns of magnetic polarity on the ocean floor. Age of the oceanic crust: younger rocks near the mid-ocean ridges and older rocks farther away. Mid-ocean ridges: underwater mountain ranges with high heat flow and seismic activity, where new crust is formed.


When examining rocks from both sides of the mid Atlantic ridge scientists found evidence for?

When examining rocks from both sides of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists found evidence of symmetric patterns of magnetic striping and varying ages of rocks. This indicated that new oceanic crust is formed at the ridge and gradually moves away from it, supporting the theory of seafloor spreading. Additionally, the rocks showed differences in composition and age, with younger rocks closest to the ridge and older rocks further away, reflecting the dynamic processes of plate tectonics.


How do rocks along the central valley of the mid ocean ridge provide evidence for sea floor spreading?

because the scientists found that the farther the rocks the older the rocks were. so the youngest rocks were found near the mid-ocean ridge. this showed that sea-floor spreading took place. +++ The primary evidence is "magnetic striping": remnant magnetising by the Earth's magnetic field of the iron compounds in the basalt forming the ocean floor. The magnetic traces are parallel to the spreading-ridges, and their polarity reflect the field's periodic reversal. The further from the ridge, the older the stripes. The rock is imprinted with the magnetism as it cools below a certain point in being eruped along the ridge.


How did scientist figure out how old the rocks in the mid-Atlantic ridge are?

Scientists determined the age of rocks in the mid-Atlantic Ridge primarily through radiometric dating techniques, particularly using isotopes like uranium-lead and potassium-argon. By collecting rock samples from various locations along the ridge and analyzing the decay of radioactive elements, researchers could establish the formation dates of these rocks. Additionally, magnetic striping patterns on the ocean floor, created by seafloor spreading, helped correlate the age of rocks with known geomagnetic reversals. This combination of methods provided a comprehensive understanding of the geological history of the mid-Atlantic Ridge.


What pattern of striping at a mid ocean ridge would you expect to find?

At a mid-ocean ridge, you would expect to find a symmetrical pattern of magnetic striping on either side of the ridge. This pattern results from the periodic reversal of Earth's magnetic field, which causes new basaltic rock formed at the ridge to record the current magnetic orientation as it cools. As tectonic plates move apart, these magnetic stripes mirror each other on both sides of the ridge, providing evidence for seafloor spreading. The age of the stripes increases with distance from the ridge, supporting the theory of plate tectonics.

Related Questions

What did harry hess propose?

Harry Hess proposed an explanation that tied together data on the age of ocean rocks, sediment thickness, and magnetic striping.


How was magnetic striping used to explain age of the seafloor?

it was use by watching porn


What can the orientation of a rocks magnetic field can tell you?

The orientation of a rock's magnetic field can provide information about the rock's formation and past geological processes. It can indicate the rock's original position when it formed, whether it has been subjected to tectonic movements or heating events, and reveal the Earth's magnetic field at the time of the rock's formation.


The orientation of a rock’s magnetic field can tell you its?

The orientation of a rock's magnetic field can tell you the direction in which the rock was formed, as the magnetic minerals in the rock align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field at the time of formation. It can provide insights into the geological history of the rock, including its age and past movements.


What are the 3 lines of evidence for sea-floor spreading?

Magnetic striping: alternating patterns of magnetic polarity on the ocean floor. Age of the oceanic crust: younger rocks near the mid-ocean ridges and older rocks farther away. Mid-ocean ridges: underwater mountain ranges with high heat flow and seismic activity, where new crust is formed.


How was the age of rocks in ocean basins determined?

The age of rocks in ocean basins was determined through radiometric dating of volcanic rocks, which provides the absolute age of the rocks. Analyzing the magnetic properties of the rocks and the orientation of magnetic minerals helped in dating the rocks based on changes in Earth's magnetic field over time. Additionally, studying the distribution of fossils in the rocks provided relative dating information based on the known ages of the fossils.


What are three types of evidence provided support for the theory of sea-floor spreading?

Magnetic striping: Patterns of alternating magnetic polarity in the rock of the ocean floor provide evidence of the seafloor moving away from mid-ocean ridges. Age of the oceanic crust: Younger rocks are found nearer to mid-ocean ridges, supporting the idea of continuous seafloor creation. Ocean drilling samples: Rock samples from the ocean floor show consistent patterns of increasing age with distance from mid-ocean ridges, supporting the theory of seafloor spreading.


How do rocks along the central valley of the mid ocean ridge provide evidence for sea floor spreading?

because the scientists found that the farther the rocks the older the rocks were. so the youngest rocks were found near the mid-ocean ridge. this showed that sea-floor spreading took place. +++ The primary evidence is "magnetic striping": remnant magnetising by the Earth's magnetic field of the iron compounds in the basalt forming the ocean floor. The magnetic traces are parallel to the spreading-ridges, and their polarity reflect the field's periodic reversal. The further from the ridge, the older the stripes. The rock is imprinted with the magnetism as it cools below a certain point in being eruped along the ridge.


Is an isochron a change in earth's magnetic field?

No, an isochron is a line on a map that connects points of equal age in rocks or minerals. It is used in geochronology to study the age of different rocks or regions. Changes in Earth's magnetic field are typically tracked by studying the magnetization of rocks, which can provide insights into the history and dynamics of the field.


How can the magnetic field of the Earth be sued to estimate the age of rocks found in the Earth?

By knowing the precise orientation of the rocks magnetic field, you can compare its magnetic field direction to the known direction of the magnetic field over time since the "north pole" wanders over time. The rock locked in its magnetic field when it cooled from magma.


How do rocks record changes in earths magnetic field?

Rocks which are liquid (lava) have their magnetic particles aligned to the local magnetic field as they cool and solidify. The rocks can be dated by the radioactive decay processes. If there is a new layer of rock (lava) laid down over this same deposit and the magnetic filed has altered, the new rock will have a different imposted magnetic field and age than the older rock.


What is the evidence for sea-floor spreading?

Evidence for sea-floor spreading includes the discovery of mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed, the age progression of rocks showing youngest rocks at mid-ocean ridges and oldest near continents, magnetic striping patterns on the sea floor due to changes in Earth's magnetic field, and the presence of deep ocean trenches where older crust is subducted.