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Evolution of Geologic Time Scale

The document discusses the evolution of the geologic time scale and methods for determining the relative and numerical ages of rocks and geologic features. It covers principles of stratigraphy like superposition and cross-cutting relationships. It also discusses using radioactive isotopes to determine absolute ages and different methods like carbon-14 dating. Finally it discusses factors that influence the rate of weathering and types of weathering.

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kevinlow3
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48 views10 pages

Evolution of Geologic Time Scale

The document discusses the evolution of the geologic time scale and methods for determining the relative and numerical ages of rocks and geologic features. It covers principles of stratigraphy like superposition and cross-cutting relationships. It also discusses using radioactive isotopes to determine absolute ages and different methods like carbon-14 dating. Finally it discusses factors that influence the rate of weathering and types of weathering.

Uploaded by

kevinlow3
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Evolution of Geologic Time Scale

 Relative Age
Recap of Geologic Time Scale  Based on stratigraphic principles
 Uses spatial relationships to infer ages
 Uses fossil assemblages to establish Formations
 Isotopic Age
 Recent addition to geologic time measurement
with development of atomic physics

Stratigraphic Basics Unconformities


 Principle of original horizontality  Mark missing time periods
sediments deposited in essentially  Indicate uplifting tectonic forces that cause
erosion or global seal level changes
horizontal beds  Disconformity erosional surface between
 Principle of Superposition sediments that horizontal beds
 Nonconformity erosional surface between
lie above other sediments are younger than sediments and underlying igneous or metamorphic
the sediments they overlie rocks
 Uniformitarianism!  Angular Unconformity erosional surface where
beds are not parallel.

Cross-Cutting Relationships
 Provide clues for relative age of adjacent
units Relative Chronology
 Unconformities and discordant beds
 Dikes, Sills, Plutons
 Faults
Radioactive Isotope Dating
 Uses principals of isotopic decay to date
rocks
 Isotope ratios are locked into a rock upon
initial crystallization
 Analysis of radioactive decay allows the age
of rocks to be calculated

p.378-379

Original artwork by Gary Hincks

Relative Age Dating Numerical Age Dating


 Uniformitarianism  Isotopic Dating methods
 Original Horizontality  Carbon-14 is useful for engineering projects
 Superposition due to relatively short half-life
 Cross-Cutting Relationships  Other potentially useful methods include:
 Fossil Assemblages  Dendrochronology
 Lichenometry
 Varve Chronology
Weathering
Physical
Disintegration
 physical breakdown, no chemical change,
 natural zones of weakness,
 unloading,
 thermal stresses,
 frost wedging,
 wetting & drying,
 biological activity

Southern Escarpment, Sultanate of Oman

Weathering (contd) Factors Inuencing the Rate of


Weathering
 Properties of Parent Rock
Chemical
 Climate Rainfall and Temperature
Decomposition
 chemical transformation,  Presence or Absence of Soil
 formation of new minerals  Time Period of Exposure
 Oxidation,
 hydration,
 cation exchange,
 dissolution by inorganic and organic acids
Chemical Weathering Dissolution

etched feldspar crystal

Minerals decay at different rates


Cracks form at crystal boundaries
(biotite, feldspar, magnetite decay
Granite but not quartz )
Decay progresses, cracks open,
rock disintegrates
Fig. 7.07d

Courtesy Carlo Giovanella


!"#"$%&()%&*+(

, -./0 ".%(1&**"+(2345-.&(

Physical Weathering

Fig. 7.04

W. W. Norton
Fig. 7.06a Fig. 7.05b

W. W. Norton Stephen Marshak

Point Lobos State Reserve, California Tree roots invading rock fractures, promoting weathering

Fig. 7.05a

Martin Miller
Fig. 7.07c

W. W. Norton

Chemical Weathering
And Soil Formation

Fig. 7.11b

W. W. Norton

Residual Soils

 Derived from bedrock directly - form in place


 Develop faster where weathering is accelerated
 Can take a long time to develop because of
intermittent availability of water (chemical
weathering dominates)
 Texture is highly variable due to differences in
rock types, and chemical processes
Residual Soil Formation
Clay Mineral formation
(Results from intense And sheet Alumino Silicate
minerals
Chemical weathering)

      

W. W. Norton

Produce oxides of 
Fe and Al

Transported Soils
 Form by accumulation of material from
somewhere else
 Texture tends to be much more uniform
than residual soils due to sorting during
transportation
 Involve both physical and chemical
weathering
Sand is a sediment composed of grains derived from various parent rocks
Core Stone

Saprolite
Weathering - Summary

Physical
Disintegration physical breakdown, no chemical change
 unloading, thermal stresses, frost wedging, wetting & drying,
biological activity
Chemical
Decomposition chemical transformation, formation of new minerals
Oxidation, hydration, cation exchange, dissolution by inorganic
and organic acids
Weathering products: clay minerals, ions in solution
Saprolite decomposed rock showing a texture and structure of
the original rock
Residual soil laterite: iron and aluminum rich, silica deficient

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