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EARTH SCIENCE
Quarter 2 - Module 12
Dating of Rocks and Geologic Time
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Management Team
Chairperson: Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, Ph.D., CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent
Lesson 1
Rock Dating
What”s Knew
Activity 1 Key Words to Build ........................................................... 2
What Is It ......................................................................................... 2
What’s More
Activity 2 Concept Map .................................................................... 5
What I Can Do
Activity 3 Oldest Known Rock .......................................................... 5
What I Have learned
Assessment……………………………………………………………….7
Lesson 2
Rock Ages and Geologic Time
Summary...................................................................................................................14
Post test ...................................................................................................................14
Answer Key…………………………………………………………………………………16
References………………………………………………………………………………….18
What This Module is About
this module.
MELC 20 is all about the different methods in determining the rock age. In this
module, you will learn the different techniques used by the scientists and how do
they identify the absolute ages of different rocks in our planet which appeared
MELC 21 is all about the ages of rocks in relation to geologic time. Geologic
Time Scale is very important in our planet’s history because the important events in
many beautiful rock formations along the beaches and along the roads. It is
impressive to know how these rocks were formed as our planet is experiencing
As you go through these lessons, you will learn to appreciate the accuracy of
the ages of rocks. You will understand how these processes despite very slow, can
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What I Need to Know
ii
Icons of this Module
iii
What I Know
(Pretest)
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given choices.
3. According to the Law of Superposition, the youngest layers are found at the ____.
a. middle of the rock layers c. top of the rock layers
b. bottom of the rock layers d. just below the embedded fossils in the
rock layers
4. Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the law of
inclusion?
a. absolute dating c. radioactive dating
b. relative dating d. radiometric dating
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Lesson
What’s New
1. NDAIGT ____________
2. KORC ____________
3. TYSRALC ____________
4. BUTLEOSA ____________
5. NCIUSLINO ____________
6. PREUSISTNOIPO ____________
What Is It
Rocks are composed of layers or features called strata (singular, stratum). These
layers are used to determine the age of rocks. There are two ways to determine the age
of rocks.
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1. Relative Rock Dating. This is used to determine the comparative or relative age of
the rock to each other. However, this technique cannot give the exact age of the
rock. It is only used to arrange geological events based on rock strata. Relative rock
dating is guided by the three basic laws which is known as Steno’s Laws, authored
by Nicolaus Steno. These laws are the bases in determining the relative ages of
rock layers or features.
a. Law of Superposition – this states that the older stratum lie below the younger
layer.
Figure 1: Rock Strata
b. Law of Crosscutting- states that any feature such as fault that cuts across a
sequence of rocks is younger that everything it cuts.
In Figure 2, blue rock layer as the bottommost is the oldest, followed by the black
rock layer. The yellow fault that cuts across the blue and black layers is younger. The
purple rock layer as the topmost is the youngest..
c. Law of Inclusion- states that any rock, fragment, clast or intrusion that is included
inside of another rock is older than the rock in which it is included.
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Figure 3: Rock With Fragments
In the above figure, the rock fragment or inclusion (red) is older than the rock
that support them.
2. Absolute Rock Dating or Radiometric Dating- This technique is used to determine the
absolute age of the rock. In this technique, the decay rate of radioactive isotopes which
are embedded in the rock are measured. Isotopes are elements with equal number of
protons but different masses. There are some types of absolute dating.
c. Uranium dating- The oldest known crystal on earth is the zircon crystal from
Australia. It remained intact for an incredible 4.4 billion years which is of almost same
age of the planet earth. The radioactive isotope used to determine the absolute age
of zircon crystal was uranium which decayed into lead atoms.
Younger rocks can be dated using carbon-14. Igneous rocks contain the radioactive
isotopes which make them good for radiometric dating. In sedimentary and
metamorphic rocks, scientists will look for the presence of igneous rocks imbedded in
them to determine their absolute ages.
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What’s More
For you to practice further and master the concepts of rock dating, do this
activity.
Criteria 4 3 2 1
Exemplary Accomplished Developing Beginning
Ideas Insightful and Ideas Ideas are Ideas are not clear;
well considered are considered; somewhat with few connections
ideas making a more than one the topic; makes
lot of thoughtful some
connections connection is connections
made
What I Can Do
Now, let’s apply your skills and knowledge gained in this lesson. Use
separate sheet of paper for this.
Activity 3. Oldest Known Rocks. There are 7 oldest ricks discovered in the world. Please
tell their types, ages and locations by filling up the table next page. Answer also the
guide questions as your reflections. A rubric shall serve as your guide and at the same
time the basis upon grading.
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Table 1: Oldest Known Rocks
Name of Rock Rock Type Age of Rock Location
1.Isua Greenstone
belt
2.Acasta Gneiss
3. Alan Hills
84001
4. Genesis Rock
5. Nuvvuagittuq
Greenstone
Belt
6. Jack Hills
Zircon
7. Lunar Sample
67215
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the message. - Transitions need - Transitions are - Transitions are logical
Organizatio - Writing is improvement. present. and maintain the flow of
n& disjointed and - Conclusion is - Conclusion is thought throughout the
Structure lacks transition missing, or if logical. paper.
of thoughts. provided, does not - Conclusion is logical
(15 %) flow from the body and flows from the
of the paper. body of the paper.
Grammar,
Punctuation - Paper - Paper contains - Rules of - Rules of grammar,
& Spelling contains few grammatical, grammar, usage, usage, and punctuation
numerous punctuation and and punctuation are followed; spelling is
(15 %) grammatical, spelling errors. are followed with correct.
punctuation, minor errors.
and spelling Spelling is correct.
errors.
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given
choices.
1. Which type of rock dating is used to determine the absolute age of an igneous rock?
a. relative dating c. Radiography dating
b. Fossil dating d. Radiometric dating
2. The study of the order and position of rock layers or features is called ____________.
a. Stratigraphy b. Chronostratigraphy c. Geology d.chronology
3. He is the author of the Law of Superposition which states that in any undisturbed
sequence of rocks deposited in layers, the oldest is at the bottom while the
youngest is at the top.
a. William Smith b. Nicolaus Steno c. James Hutton d. Charles Darwin
5. This crystal was discovered in Jack Hills, Australia and is believed to be 4.375 billion
years old. This is the oldest material found on earth.
a. Zircon b. Diamond c. Anorthosite d. Ruby
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8. What is half-life?
a. The amount of time it takes for half the nuclei of the radioactive isotope to decay
b. The amount of time it takes for the nuclei of the radioactive isotope to double
c. The amount of time it takes for the proton to decay into stable atom
d. The amount of time needed for the electrons to decay
9. The half-life of strontium-90 is 25 years. How much strontium-90 will remain after 50
years if the initial amount of strontium -40 is 8.0 grams?
a. 4.0 grams b. 2.0 grams c. 1.0 gram d. 0.5 gram
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Lesson
1. Explain how relative and absolute dating were used to determine the
subdivisions of geologic time.( S11/12ES-Ii-37/ MELC 21 )
What I Know
Pretest. Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given
choices.
1. GTS means ___________.
a. Geologic Time Sequence b. Geologic Time Scale c. Geologic Technical Skill d.
Geophysical Time Scale
What’s in
Have you been to Batanes? How about in Ilocos Norte? Our country is home of
many amazing rock formations mostly situated along the coasts. Two of the amazing
rock formations are found in Batanes and Ilocos Norte. When you travel around the
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Philippines, never skip to watch these rock formations yourself and reflect how nature is
able to carve these rocks millions of years ago.
Scientists usually determine the ages of these rocks by dating and compare to
the geologic time scale to identify the chronological events that took place during the
formation. These rocks are protected by the government because of its significance in
the history of the place. People are not allowed to destroy these rocks for it would take
millions of years to carve them naturally. It is there as a piece of evidence of what our
country has been through during those old times. As you go through the lesson, you will
appreciate the beauty of nature and the importance of rock formations in our country.
What’s new
Before we will proceed to our discussion about Rock Ages and Geologic
Time Scale, let’s have first an activity that let you know what a time scale is.
Questions.
1. Based in your chart, what are the major events that occur in your routine?
2. Which event took you so long to perform it? Why?
3. Which event in your chart brought you so much changes in your daily life? Why?
What is it
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minerals. The appearance of the multicellular organism also appeared in this eon. In
this eon also, the first soft bodied invertebrates appeared and the first bacteria and blue
green algae begin to free oxygen to the atmosphere.
An eon is subdivided into eras. The Phanerozoic eon for example, is subdivided
into 3 major eras. These 3 eras are paleozoic era which means ancient life; mesozoic
era which means middle life and cenozoic era which means present life. An era is
subdivided into Periods. For example, in the paleozoic era, there are 6 periods,
namely: Permian, Carboniferous, Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician and Cambrian periods.
Permian period is known as the “age of amphibians”; Silurian period is where the first
insects appeared; jawed fish and vascular plants also appeared in this period; corals
first appeared in Ordovician period while the Cambrian period is the age of trilobites.
The Mesozoic era has 3 periods and these are Triassic wherein dinosaurs are
dominant in this period; Jurassic period wherein birds first appeared in this time and
Cretaceous period which is the mark of the extinction of dinosaurs.
In the Cenozoic era of the Phanerozoic eon, the ice age occurred. A Period is
further subdivided into Epochs. An epoch is a time scale which is longer than an age but
shorter than the period. In the Carboniferous period, there are two epochs, namely:
Pennsylvanian and Mississippian. An epoch is subdivided into Ages. The Mississippian
epoch has 3 ages. These are Tournaisian, Visean and Serpukhovian. Triassic, Jurassic
and cretaceous periods of Mesozoic era is the “age of Reptiles”; Devonian period part of
the Paleozoic era is the “age of fishes” while Cenozoic era is the “age of mammals”.
Our current time where we are now belongs to Halocene Epoch of the
Quaternary Period of Cenozoic era. (See Figure 4.Geologic Time Scale)
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In order to identify the ages of the rocks and fossils found in our planet through
exhumation, scientists use radiometric dating which uses the radioactive isotopes
present in the exhumed artefacts. After determining the age of the artefact, the age is
compared to the geologic time scale above.
For example, in the fossil record, the trilobites were dated to some 540 to 488
million years ago and they belong to the Cambrian period. Trilobites are the relatives of
the present day crabs and lobsters.
The absolute age of the young rock in Figure 5 below could be identified
by Carbon-14 dating. Once the absolute age has been computed using the radioactive
isotope present in the rock, the scientists will then compare its age with the Geologic
Time Scale to tell which period it belong.
Figure 5:
Picture taken by the
writer in Siargao Island
last May 2019
What’s more
Please perform the activity below to showcase your skills on rock ages
in relation to geologic time.
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What I have learned
Assessment
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given choices.
10. Which of the following does not belong to the paleozoic era?
a. Devonian b. Silurian c. Carboniferous d. Precambrian
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Summary
▪ There are 3 basic laws of Stratigraphy. These laws are proposed by Nicolaus
Steno, a Catholic priest and Danish Scientist.
▪ Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers. It is important because it holds the
sequence of the formation of each layer of the rock. It can tell which part of the
rock is the oldest and youngest.
▪ Relative dating is a technique used to tell the geologic events in rock
▪ Absolute dating uses Carbon-14, Potassium-40 and Uraniums- 238 and 235
▪ The absolute age of the rock is determined only using the radiometric dating.
▪ Radiometric dating makes use the radioactive isotopes present in rocks.
▪ Once the absolute age of rock is measured, it is then compared to a scale called
Geologic Time Scale to identify the time the rock was formed.
Post-Test
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given choices.
1. Which type of rock dating is used to determine the absolute age of an igneous rock?
a. Radiometric dating b. Fossil dating c. Radiography dating d. Relative dating
2. The study of the order and position of rock layers or features is called ____________.
a. Stratigraphy b. Chronostratigraphy c. Geology d.chronology
3. He is the author of the Law of Superposition which states that in any undisturbed
sequence of rocks deposited in layers, the oldest is at the bottom while the
youngest is at the top.
a. William Smith b. Nicolaus Steno c. James Hutton d. Charles Darwin
5. This crystal was discovered in Jack Hills, Australia and is believed to be 4.375 billion
years old. This is the oldest material found on earth.
a. Zircon b. Diamond c. Anorthosite d. Ruby
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8. How old is the earth ?
a. 2000 years old c. 4.6 billion years old
b. 3.9 billions years old d. 4.6 million years old
9. According to the law of Superposition, the youngest layers are found at the ____.
a. middle of the rock layers c. top of the rock layers
b. bottom of the rock layers d. just below the embedded fossils in the rock
layers
10. Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the law of
inclusion?
a. absolute dating b. relative dating c. radioactive dating d. radiometric dating
13. Blue green algae begins to free oxygen during the ____________.
a. Silurian b. Precambrian c. Cambrian d. Permian
15. It is a timescale which is longer than an age but shorter than the period.
a.Era b. Eon c. Period d. epoch
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ANSWER KEY
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References
1. Peppe, D. J. & Deino, A. L.” Dating Rocks and Fossils Using Geologic
Methods.”Nature Education Knowledge 4(10):1
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