Stratified Rocks

Stratified Rocks
1. Describe how layers of rocks

(stratified rocks) are formed
(S11/12ES-Ie-25);
2. Describe the different methods
(relative and absolute dating) to
determine the age of stratified rocks
(S11/12ES-Ie-26).
Identify and describe the possible events
that takes place in each number
ACTIVITY #1: LETTER-LAYER
Direction:
SEQUENCING
1. Make a card of letters like what is shown in Figure 3. You can use either cardboard or a
piece of paper in making cards. Make sure the sizes of the letters are the same.
2. To arrange the letters in a specific sequence, you have to look first for the card
representing the bottom layer (first layer), it is already stated in the clues that it is the
card containing the letters “D” and “M”.
3. For the next layer, look for the card that contains either letters “D” or “M”. Obviously,
that is card “FD” since aside from the first card (DM) it is the only remaining card
containing the letter “D”, and no remaining card contains with letter “M”. Place it on
top of the first card (first layer) by aligning the common letters in the two boxes.
4. Continue sequencing the letters up to the last card. The result must be a stack of
cards. The card at the bottom is the oldest layer containing the oldest letters or
materials, while the topmost card is the youngest layer containing the youngest
letters or materials.
5. Write the correct sequence of letters in your notebook without repeating the letters.
The manner of writing the sequence of letters will be from the oldest letter (bottom)
up to the youngest letter (topmost)
6. Take a picture of your output and paste them below. Write your answers below.
1. Cut the 1.5L empty plastic bottle
as shown in the picture. Make at
ACTIVITY #2: least 4 small holes at the bottom of
the container as our drainage. Set
I’M-A-LAYER aside.
2. Break the rocks into very small
pieces. You may use a hammer or
other materials to break it.
3. Put the pieces of rocks, sand, clay
soil, loam soil into the container
on top of each other to create a
layer.
4. Add water slowly. Make sure not
to disrupt the layers in adding
water.
5. Let it drain for several minutes.
ACTIVITY #3: HALF-LIFE
Direction:
1. Place the 100 pieces of 25-centavo coins in a shoe box and shake it.
2. Pour out the coins on a clean table.
3. Take out the coins that show the head. The coins that showed the head
represents the decayed radioactive material.
4. Count how many coins are left after the 1st throw. Record your data on
the table provided.
5. Place the remaining coins in the box. Then again pour out the coins on
the clean table.
6. Take out the coins that show the head.
7. Count how many coins are left. Record your data on the table provided.
8. Continue doing the activity until only 2 or 3 coins are left.
40
30
20
10
0
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4
STRATIFIED ROCKS
Stratified rock is a classification of rock based
on its physical properties.
These are rocks that has strata or layers.
Stratified rocks are made up of sedimentary
rocks. Sediments that hardened over time create
layers that make it a stratified rock. This
process of creating layers of rocks is called
stratification.
There are four steps on how stratified
sedimentary rocks are formed.
1. WEATHERING. The is the first step in sedimentary rock
formation where large pieces of rocks are broken down into
smaller pieces. These pieces of rocks together with other
materials form the sediments.
2. EROSION. Sediments, being light
weight, will then be transported over
time. The process of transporting rock
particles and other materials from one
place to another is called erosion. This
can be caused by wind, water, and other
natural agents.
3. DEPOSITION. The sediments
together with fossils will then settle in
a certain place after being eroded, in
most cases in bodies of water like
oceans where sediments are deposited
undist urbed at the bottom due to
gravity.
4. COMPACTION. The deposited sediments will begin to stick to
one another, cemented together with clay, other minerals, and
fossils, and compacted creating a layer of sedimentary rock. Over
time, another layer of sediments composed of other kind of materials
will pile up on top of the first layer forming a stratified sedimentary
rock.
Danish scientist Nicolas Steno proposed the Law of Original

Horizontality which states that sediments are deposited horizontally
creating horizontal strata or layers. Strata’s thickness may vary from
millimeters to several meters. The strata reveal rock composition and age
that can be used to know the events and objects in the Earth’s history.
METHODS OF DETERMINING THE AGE OF STRATIFIED
ROCKS
1. RELATIVE DATING. It is a method of determining
the age of rocks in each layer by identifying the relative
order of previous events. The determination of the
relative ages of rocks are based on the following
principles:
a. LAW OF SUPERPOSITION. It states that each
layer of sediments is piled on top of another layer
making the one on top of the strata the youngest one,
while the layer at the bottom of the strata as the oldest.
ROCKS
b. CROSS-CUTTING RELATIONSHIP. Igneous rocks are
formed from a solidified magma or lava. A lava that cooled and
hardened in a surface is called an extrusion. The strata beneath
the extrusion are always older. A magma that cooled and
hardened beneath the surface is called an intrusion. An igneous
intrusion is always younger than the rock it has intruded; this
principle is called the cross-cutting relationship.
c. LAW OF INCLUSION. The rocks that mixed up in the

formation of sediments are called inclusions. These rocks are
always older than the layer of sediments it is embedded.
ROCKS
d. FAUNAL SUCCESION. Fossils of plants and animals are
grouped according to the period of geologic time they
appeared. Strata containing those group of fossils are also
formed on that period.
e. LAW OF ORIGINAL HORIZONTALITY. Layers of

sediments are originally deposited horizontally. Those strata
that are found not in horizontal order may have been deformed
by the movement of the Earth’s crust. Through these
distinctive features, each layer of rocks can be compared from
one another determining their relative ages
ROCKS
2. ABSOLUTE DATING. It is a method of determining

the numerical age of rocks using advanced technology.
The most common way of determining the absolute age
of rock is through Radiometric dating where radioactive
isotopes found in fossils or rocks are used.
ROCKS
Carbon-14 (C-14) is used to determine the age of fossils

embedded in rocks and Uranium-238 (U-238) for rocks.
Radioactive isotope, called parent isotope are unstable and

gradually decays in a fixed rate into a daughter isotope which
is more stable. The time it takes for one half of the isotope to
decay is called half-life. For example, U-238 will take 4.5
billion years for half the amount of it to decay into a daughter
isotope Lead-206 (Pb-206).
Example problem:
Using potassium-40, calculate how long ago a rock was
formed if it has only 25% of potassium-40 found in similar
rock formed today. Note that the half-life of potassium-40 is
1.251 billion years.
SOLUTION:
The rock had gone by 2 half-life, that is,

(1.251 bya X 2) = 2.502 billion years ago

The rock was formed about 2.502 billion years ago.

Stratified Rocks

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Stratified Rocks

1. Describe how layers of rocks

Danish scientist Nicolas Steno proposed the Law of Original

c. LAW OF INCLUSION. The rocks that mixed up in the

e. LAW OF ORIGINAL HORIZONTALITY. Layers of

2. ABSOLUTE DATING. It is a method of determining

Carbon-14 (C-14) is used to determine the age of fossils

Radioactive isotope, called parent isotope are unstable and

The rock had gone by 2 half-life, that is,

The rock was formed about 2.502 billion years ago.

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