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Index fossils are used as guides to determine the age of rock because they are species that were widely distributed, existed for a relatively short geological time, and are easy to identify. Their presence in rock layers allows geologists to correlate the age of those layers across different locations. By comparing the occurrence of index fossils in various strata, scientists can establish a relative timeline and better understand the geological history of an area. This method helps in dating rocks and understanding the environmental conditions of the time when the fossils were formed.

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What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?

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.


Fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

Index fossils are used to compare the relative ages of fossils. These are fossils that are known to have lived during a specific time period, helping to date the rock layers in which they are found. By identifying and comparing index fossils, scientists can determine the relative ages of different rock layers and fossils.


What fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

An index fossil. An index fossil's age is known, allowing scientists to know the relative age of other fossils based on their position relative to the index fossil. (Ex. If a fossil is deeper in the earth, it is older than the index fossil)


What are index fossils used to determine?

Index fossils are used to determine the relative age of rock layers. By studying the presence of these distinct fossils in different layers of rock, geologists can identify the relative age of the rocks and correlate them with other rock layers in different locations.


Can fossils be used as index fossils?

Yes, index fossils are special fossils that act as geological tools enabling comparison in time of a range of geological units and environment. Normally, they are selected using certain attributes such as the fossil should be widespread, abundant, fast evolving, and independent of their environment.

Related Questions

What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?

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 index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rock?

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 index fossil and how are they used to determined the absolute age of sedimentary rock?

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.


____ fossils are used to determine in what time in the past events occured?

Index


Fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

Index fossils are used to compare the relative ages of fossils. These are fossils that are known to have lived during a specific time period, helping to date the rock layers in which they are found. By identifying and comparing index fossils, scientists can determine the relative ages of different rock layers and fossils.


What fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils?

An index fossil. An index fossil's age is known, allowing scientists to know the relative age of other fossils based on their position relative to the index fossil. (Ex. If a fossil is deeper in the earth, it is older than the index fossil)


What are index fossils used to determine?

Index fossils are used to determine the relative age of rock layers. By studying the presence of these distinct fossils in different layers of rock, geologists can identify the relative age of the rocks and correlate them with other rock layers in different locations.


How index fossils can be used to determine the age of rocks?

Index fossils are used to date rocks by correlating the fossils found in the rock layers with known ages of those fossils. Index fossils are distinctive, widespread, and lived for a relatively short period of time. By identifying these fossils in a rock layer, scientists can infer the age of the rock based on the age range of the known fossil.


Explain how an index fossil can be used date rock.?

Index fossils are fossils of organisms that lived for a relatively short period of time but were widespread geographically. By identifying these index fossils in a particular layer of rock, scientists can determine the age of the rock and correlate it with other rock layers containing the same index fossils. This allows for the relative dating of rock layers based on the presence of specific index fossils.


Why are index fossils useful for figure out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers?

index fossils are useful for figuring out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers by index fossils are used to determine when rock layers were formed so if they were used to figure out the age of a set of disturbed rock layers than they can also figure out when they were formed .


Can fossils be used as index fossils?

Yes, index fossils are special fossils that act as geological tools enabling comparison in time of a range of geological units and environment. Normally, they are selected using certain attributes such as the fossil should be widespread, abundant, fast evolving, and independent of their environment.


How can index fossils help us figure out how the continents used to be arranged?

Index fossils are used to correlate rocks of similar age in different locations. By studying index fossils found in rock layers from different continents, scientists can determine which layers are of similar age and potentially infer how these continents were once connected. This information helps in reconstructing past continental configurations, such as during the time of Pangea.