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Index fossils are the fossils of short-lived species which, because of their short lives, can be used by scientists to identify the age of the rock strata in which they're found. (For example, if you know a certain species only lived in the Cambrian period, and you find some fossils of this species in some rock, then you know the other fossils you find in that rock must also have come from the Cambrian period.) Some examples of species that left behind index fossils, and their related historical periods, are:
- Billingsella corrugagta - Cambrian period, Palaeozoic era
- Cactocrinus multibrachiatus - Mississippian period, Palaeozoic era
- Scaphites hippocrepia - Cretaceous period, Mesozoic era
- Neptunea tabulata - Quarternary period, Cenozoic era
See the links below for more examples and info.
What else can I help you with?
Are trilobites used as index fossils?
because they changed slowly through time(:
What are the three criteria that must be met in order for a fossil to be considered an index fossil?
An index fossil is organisms that is a signature for certain geographical eras. Index fossils are a charting of time that is used to describe other organisms found in that time era. The fossils were found in the stones that are determinations by carbon indexing and therefore are index fossils.
Why did scientists use trilobites as index fossils?
Scientists used trilobites as index fossils because they were abundant, had a wide distribution, and had a relatively short existence in the fossil record. This made them useful for correlating rock layers from different locations and determining the relative ages of the rocks.
Trilobites are index fossils because they?
because they change slowly through time
What are the 3 characteristics of index fossils?
Index fossils help scientists figure out the plants and animals that were alive in a certain time period. There are different types of index fossils that are used for different amounts of time.
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 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.
What is fossils organisms that lived a short period of time called?
They are called index 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)
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.
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.
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 fossils are useful in determining the relative age of rocks?
Index fossils
What is a an important tool scientists use to study the relative age of rocks?
Index fossils are used, and are of significant importance in finding the relative age of rock.
What is the relative age of fossils found at the top layer of rock?
They are called index fossils, fossils of organisms that were widespread, evolving quickly, and only appeared in the geologic column for a specific length of time.
What are index fossils useful for?
Because organisms that became index fossils lived only during specific intervals of geologic time, geologists can estimate the ages of rock layers based on the particular index fossils they contain.
