This document describes an activity where students match rock layers between two outcrops based on the fossil evidence. They draw arrows between matching layers and determine which outcrop contains older layers based on the number of layers. An unconformity exists in one outcrop, possibly due to a change in environment. Students estimate the age of a fossil in one layer as 5.5 million years based on the surrounding rock layers. Different environments could explain why the same fossil is found in different rock types between layers. The document also contains an example of using fossil evidence to correlate rock layers and determine the oldest and youngest layers based on the principle of superposition.
This document describes an activity where students match rock layers between two outcrops based on the fossil evidence. They draw arrows between matching layers and determine which outcrop contains older layers based on the number of layers. An unconformity exists in one outcrop, possibly due to a change in environment. Students estimate the age of a fossil in one layer as 5.5 million years based on the surrounding rock layers. Different environments could explain why the same fossil is found in different rock types between layers. The document also contains an example of using fossil evidence to correlate rock layers and determine the oldest and youngest layers based on the principle of superposition.
This document describes an activity where students match rock layers between two outcrops based on the fossil evidence. They draw arrows between matching layers and determine which outcrop contains older layers based on the number of layers. An unconformity exists in one outcrop, possibly due to a change in environment. Students estimate the age of a fossil in one layer as 5.5 million years based on the surrounding rock layers. Different environments could explain why the same fossil is found in different rock types between layers. The document also contains an example of using fossil evidence to correlate rock layers and determine the oldest and youngest layers based on the principle of superposition.
This document describes an activity where students match rock layers between two outcrops based on the fossil evidence. They draw arrows between matching layers and determine which outcrop contains older layers based on the number of layers. An unconformity exists in one outcrop, possibly due to a change in environment. Students estimate the age of a fossil in one layer as 5.5 million years based on the surrounding rock layers. Different environments could explain why the same fossil is found in different rock types between layers. The document also contains an example of using fossil evidence to correlate rock layers and determine the oldest and youngest layers based on the principle of superposition.
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Damsel Elise Gamboa
STEM 15
ACTIVITY:
CORRELATING ROCK LAYERS USING FOSSILS
Most rock layers (strata) are buried underground. However, some parts can be seen on Earth’s surface. These exposed layers are called outcrops. Geologists use various exposed outcrops to try to match similar rock layers in different locations to see if they formed at the same time or under the same conditions. This process is called rock “correlation” or stratigraphic matching. Below is a diagram of two outcrops in different locations that are miles apart. Match the rock layers in one section with the layers in the other section by drawing arrows to the layers that match up by fossil type. Sometimes the rock type will match but not always. Remember that sometimes erosion can remove layers that used to be there and then more layers can be deposited on top of the eroded layer. 1. Draw arrows to connect the matching rock layers by their fossils.
2. Label the layer in each section that is the oldest. Which layer between the two of them is older? (left outcrop or right outcrop) Explain your answer.
-The left outcrop is the younger one because it has fewer layers than the right one. The right one has existed much longer that’s why it has more layers of rock. The fossils shown on the right outcrop are also older, which strengthens the claim that the right outcrop has existed longer.
3. An “unconformity” exists between two layers in the first section. What is
one possible reason that the unconformity appears only in the first section and not the second section?
-There has been a change to the environment where the rocks reside. Sediment deposition was not continuous. A possible reason is that the first section had been covered by water and the other was not. The older layer may be exposed to erosion before the younger one.
4. How old do you think the fossil that is shaped like this: in the 2nd layer of the 2nd section is based on the age of the rocks around it? Explain your answer.
-If you take into consideration the layers around the fossil, it is about 5.5 million years old
5. The fossil that is a wing-shaped clam (on the bottom layer of the first section) is found in sandstone in the first layer and limestone in the second layer. What is one possible explanation for why they are not found in the same type of rock?
-They had different environments and one might have been aquatic while the other was terrestrial. They also went through very different conditions that’s why they aren’t in the same layer.
FOSSILS AND RELATIVE DATING
Examine the following diagrams. Columns I and II contain rock layers A, B, C and D, E, F. Both columns were taken from the same geological location.
1.Which two layers are approximately the same age? How do you know?
-I think that Layers C and D are the same age. They have the same fossil and the rock in their layer is the same.
2.Which layer is the OLDEST? How do you know?
-The oldest layer would be Layer F because it would be at the bottom,
and according to the Law of Superposition, the deeper you get, the older the rock layer is.
3.Which layer is the YOUNGEST? How do you know?
-Layer A is the youngest because of the Law of Superposition.
What do you think?
What is the importance of determining the age of rocks?
Studying the age of rocks is like studying history. We need to
understand the past to understand the present. Studying the age of rocks gives out a lot of details like important geologic processes and events.
