GEOCHRONOLOGY

Geochronology is t h e s c i e n c e of d a t i n g e v e n t s of s a r t k
h i s t o r y . There a r e two a s p e c t s of geochronology: ( 1 ) Abso-
l u t e geochronology which e s t a b l i s h e s d a t e s i n tems of
a c t u a l y e a r s , and (2) r e l a t i v e geochronology i n which e v e n t s
are d a t e d i n r e f e r e n c e t o e a c h o t h e r .
Many l i n e s oí' evidence may be used t o detemine the rsl-
a t i v e aees of two o r more g e o l o g i c events. The f o l l o w i q g
are t h e f i v e major p r i n c i p l e s o r laws used i n deteriaining
r e l a t i v e time order of rocks, s t r u c t u r e s , etc.
1. The Principie o f O r i g i n a l H o r i z o n t a l i t y states t i m t
stedimentary r o c k s =e d e p o s i t e d i n l n y e r s or be& thlat aers
e s s e n t i a i i y h o r i z o n t a l and generally *ralle1 t o the sarthts

Phe bottora.
-
s v f a c e . Arrange t b e two e v e n t s i l l u s t r r t s d i n t h e cross
s g c t i o n bslow ( D j r g r r m A ) i n time order w f t h t h e o l d g s t at
e lo\ 2

Events
F o l d i n g of rocM
ibnarit ion of raxb
2. The Principie of Superposition s t a t e s t h a t i n a n undis-
t u r b e d s e q u e n c e o f s e a i r n e n t a r y o r e x t r u s i v e igneous rocks
the o l d e s t r o c k s a r e on t h e bottom and t h e y become succes-
sively younger toward t h e t o p (Diagram B) .
Events
Limes t one
Sandstone

Time O r d e r

Diagram B

3. -- Law of Unconfornaability. An u n c o n f o m i t a surfrce of

- ~nondeposit
e r o s l o g '(tG. r i o n rnd r e p r e s e n t s a
The &@sing record is younger t h a n t h s roe&-underlying t h e
& in t h e r e c o r d .
u n c o n f o m f t y and o l d e r t h a n t h e r o c k s above t h e unconforirerbls
s u r f a c e . An unconformity is usurally represented i n a crocas

Events
 *

w
4. P r i n c i p l e of D i a s t r o p h i s m . D i a s t r o p h i c movements
( f o l a i n g , p i n g , f r a c t u r i n g , o r f a u l t i n g ) a r e younger
m
t h a n any of t h e r o c k s i n v o l v e d a n d o l d e r t h a n a n y of t h e C
o v e r l y i n g r o c k s which a r e n o t af fected (~iagramD) . e
e'
Events m
Fault a'J
b
F o l d i n g o f Lower , C
Sediments
L m e r Sediments '
i
Unconformity /
t
Ugger Sediments ,

Time Order
5. f a - \ !

4. U, SP.&~\\F

3. U í i ~ o f i ~ o f n ~ S
k
2. TdJ:n40~l o w< *J<,\Y.X 4

1. \DiUw s & m o n L
5 . The Principie of C r o s s - C u t t i n g R e l a t i o n s h i p s t a t e a that
y

a c r o s s - c u t t i n g f e a t u r e must be younger i n age t h a n t h e

f e a t u r e s across which i t c u t s . T h i s p r i n c i p l e is wed for
d a t i n g f a u l t s , unconfonaities, and discordant i n t r u s i o n s
The p r i n c i p l e of i n t r u s i o n states t h a t t h e i n t r u d e d rocb is
.
o l d e r t h r n the i n t r u d i n g r o c k . I g n e o u s r o c k s ( i .e., b a t h o l i t h ) a&
d a t e d as of time of e a p l a c e m e n t and s o l i d i f i c a t i o n (Dfagrrua $) ,
.A:

Events
Batholith
Dike
Sediments

Time Order

3. 2
7

Diagram E
42
 Some c o r o l l a r i e s of t h i s c r o s s - c u t t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p follow:
A. I n t r u d i n g r o c k s a r e younger t h a n i n t r u d e d r o c k s .
B. C r o s s - c u t t i n g f e a t u r e s a r e younger t h a n t h o s e
a c r o s s which t h e y c u t .
C. C r o s s - c u t t i n g f e a t u r e s may r e s u l t i n (1) a gap i n
t h e g e o l o g i c record o r (2) a r e p e t i t i o n of some'
p a r t of t h e r e c o r d ,
Apply t h e p r i n c i p l e s of r e l a t i v e geochronology t o d a t e
t h e g e o l o g i c e v e n t s shown on Diagrams F , G, and H. A
complete list of t h e items t o be n o t i c e d is g i v e n .

Diagram F

Events Time Order

Sed iarentary b e d s
C, D , G, Y, Q , R, Z
Volcrnic nsh J
U n c o n f o m it p X
MassIve . i g a e o u s rocks L
F o l d i n g of lower s e d i m e n t s