Earth Systems Chapter 12

Relative Dating : Which Came First?

Objectives:1. Explain how relative dating is used in

geology.

2. Explain the principle of superposition.

3. Describe how the geologic column is used in relative dating.

4. Identify two events and two features that disrupt rock layers.

5. Explain how physical features are used to determine relative ages.

Geologists try to determine the order in which events have happened during Earth’s history. They rely on rocks and fossils to help them in

their investigation.Relative dating

The process of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects.

The Principle of Superposition

Layers of sedimentary rock, such as the ones shown below, are stacked like pancakes.

As you move from the top to the bottom in layers of sedimentary rock, the lower layers are older.

Superposition Principle that states that younger rocks lie above

older rocks, if the layers have not been disturbed.

Disturbing ForcesNot all rock sequences are arranged with the

oldest layers on the bottom and the youngest layers on top.

Some rock sequences have been disturbed by forces within the Earth.

These forces can:Push other rocks into a sequenceTilt or fold rock layersBreak sequences into moveable parts.

Geologic an ideal sequence of rock layers that contains all

the known fossils and rock formations on Earth, arranged from oldest to youngest.

Geologists use the geologic column to:1. Interpret rock sequences 2. Identify the layers in puzzling rock sequences.

The Geologic Column

Geologistsoften find features that cut across existing layers

of rock.assign relative ages to the features and the

layers.The features must be younger than the rock

layers because the rock layers had to be present before the features could cut across them.

Disturbed Rock Layers

fault

intrusion

Events That Disturb Rock Layers Geologists assume that the way sediment is

deposited to form rock layers — in horizontal layers — has not changed over time.

If rock layers are not horizontalsomething must have disturbed them after they

formed.Four ways that rock layers may become

disturbed.1. A fault

break in the Earth’s crust along which blocks of the crust slide relative to one another.

2. An intrusion molten rock from the Earth’s interior that

squeezes into existing rock and cools.

3. Folding occurs when rock layers bend and buckle from

Earth’s internal forces.

4. Tilting occurs when internal forces in the Earth slant rock

layers.

Missing EvidenceSometimes, layers of rock are missing, creating a

gap in the geologic record.Unconformity

break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded or when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time.

Gaps in the Record -- Unconformities

Most unconformities form by both erosion and nondeposition, but other factors may be involved.

Geologists place them into three major categories: 1. Disconformities2. Nonconformities3. Angular unconformities

Disconformities exist where part of a sequence of parallel rock layers is missing.

Types of Unconformities

Nonconformitiesexist where sedimentary rock layers lie on top of

an eroded surface of nonlayered igneous or metamorphic rock.

Angular Unconformitiesexist between horizontal rock layers and rock

layers that are tilted or folded.

Rock-layer sequences often have been affected by more than one geological event or feature.For example, intrusions may squeeze into rock

layers that contain an unconformityDetermining the order events

is like solving a jigsaw puzzle.piece together the history of the Earth.

Rock-Layer Puzzles