Dating Rock Layers

How to tell how old the layers of

rock are.

What is Age?
There are two kinds:
-Absolute Age The number of years since the
rock formed. (150 million years old, 10
thousand years old.)

Much harder to figure out. Often

impossible.

What is Age?
Relative Age The age compared to the
ages of other rocks. (older than this rock,
younger than that rock.)
Much easier to figure out. Can be deduced
from clues on the Earth.

What are the ways to tell

RELATIVE AGE.
AGE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Law of Superposition
Extrusion & Intrusion
Faults
Unconformities
Uniformitarianism

What is the Law of Superposition?

In horizontal sedimentary rock layers, the

oldest layer is at the bottom. Each higher
layer is younger than the layers below it.

Age and Superposition

What is Extrusion?
When magma cools on the surface of the
Earth its called an EXTRUSION.
Extrusions are always YOUNGER than
the rock it is sitting on.
For extrusion think exit or outside.

What is an Intrusion?
When magma cools beneath the surface
of the Earth its called an INTRUSION.
Intrusions are always YOUNGER than the
rocks around it.
For intrusion think inside.

Heres an Intrusion

Extrusions? Intrusions?
G
First of all, What
whichisrock
this layer
called?
is the oldest?
F
E

EXTRUSION

More rock layers are deposited on

top of the extrusion.
INTRUSION

C
B
A

What is a Fault?
A BREAK in the Earths crust.
A fault is always YOUNGER than the rock
it cuts through.
Faults move over time, making
determining the age of the layers
confusing.

Heres a Fault

Faults
Faults
move
timelayers
causing
the
This crack
in over
the rock
is called
rock
layers to move.
a fault.

Faults

As more time goes by, more rock

layers are added on top. Making
aging the rock layers difficult.

Faults
E
D
Geologists must then label each of
C the rock layers. This can be tough
because they werent around to see
the whole process occur.
B
A

C
B
A

What is an Unconformity?
The surface where new rock layers meet a
much older rock surface beneath them.
An unconformity shows where some rock
layers have been lost because of erosion.

Unconformity

Uniformitarianism
Geologic process that happened in the past
can be explained by current geologic
processes.
Processes such as volcanism and erosion
that go on today happened in a similar way
in the past.
Because geologic process tend to happen
at a slow rate, this means that Earth must
be very old.

Summary

Relative vs. Absolute Age

Determining Relative Age:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Law of Superposition on top is younger

Intrusions magma inside Earth.
Extrusions magma on top of Earth.
Faults breaks in the crust
Unconformities signs of erosion.
Uniformitarianism processes repeat and
happen slowly showing extreme age of Earth.

Human Impact
How humans have changed their
geological and biological
environment.

Human Impact

Humans impact their environment in a

number of different ways including the
following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Urbanization
Deforestation
Desertification
Changing Water Flow
Pollution

What is Urbanization?
The growth of urban areas (cities) caused
by people moving into cities.
When cities increase in size, the
population of rural areas near the city may
decrease.

What is Deforestation?
The removal of trees and other vegetation
from an area.
Urbanization can cause deforestation
when forests are replaced with buildings.

What is Desertification?
The process by which land becomes more
desert like and unable to support life.
Urbanization can also lead to
desertification.

What happens when Water

Flow is Changed?
Digging irrigation canals to get water to
crops changes the flow of rivers.
Irrigation arid areas (deserts) changes the
ecology of those areas.
Building dams disrupts water flow and
affects the ecology of the land and water.

What is Pollution?
Contamination of air, water or land by
pollutants from human and natural
sources.

Summary

Human Impact:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Urbanization building cities

Deforestation cutting down trees
Desertification turning land into deserts
Changing Water Flow changes
environment with increase or decrease of
water
5. Pollution contaminating environment