ACTIVITY - Relative Dating

WHO'S ON FIRST?
(RELATIVE DATING)
INTRODUCTION
Scientists have good evidence that the earth is very old, approximately four and one-half billion
years old. Scientific measurements such as radiometric dating use the natural radioactivity of certain
elements found in rocks to help determine their age. Scientists also use direct evidence from
observations of the rock layers themselves to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Specific
rock formations are indicative of a particular type of environment existing when the rock was being
formed. For example, most limestones represent marine environments, whereas, sandstones with ripple
marks might indicate a shoreline habitat or a riverbed.
The study and comparison of exposed rock layers or strata in various parts of the earth led
scientists in the early 19th century to propose that the rock layers could be correlated from place to
place. Locally, physical characteristics of rocks can be compared and correlated. On a larger scale, even
between continents, fossil evidence can help in correlating rock layers. The Law of Superposition, which
states that in an undisturbed horizontal sequence of rocks, the oldest rock layers will be on the bottom,
with successively younger rocks on top of these, helps geologists correlate rock layers around the world.
This also means that fossils found in the lowest levels in a sequence of layered rocks represent the
oldest record of life there. By matching partial sequences, the truly oldest layers with fossils can be
worked out.
By correlating fossils from various parts of the world, scientists are able to give relative ages to
particular strata. This is called relative dating. Relative dating tells scientists if a rock layer is "older" or
"younger" than another. This would also mean that fossils found in the deepest layer of rocks in an area
would represent the oldest forms of life in that particular rock formation. In reading earth history, these
layers would be "read" from bottom to top or oldest to most recent. If certain fossils are typically found
only in a particular rock unit and are found in many places worldwide, they may be useful as index or
guide fossils in determining the age of undated strata. By using this information from rock formations in
various parts of the world and correlating the studies, scientists have been able to establish the geologic
time scale. This relative time scale divides the vast amount of earth history into various sections based
on geological events (sea encroachments, mountain-building, and depositional events), and notable
biological events (appearance, relative abundance, or extinction of certain life forms).
OBJECTIVES:
When you complete this activity, you will be able to: (1) sequence information using items which
overlap specific sets; (2) relate sequencing to the Law of Superposition; and (3) show how fossils can be
used to give relative dates to rock layers.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
two sets of sequence cards in random order (set A: nonsense syllables; set B: sketches of fossils), pencil,
paper
Procedure Set A:
1) Spread the cards with the nonsense syllables on the table and determine the correct sequence
of the eight cards by comparing letters that are common to individual cards and, therefore,
overlap. The first card in the sequence has "Card 1, Set A" in the lower left-hand corner and
represents the bottom of the sequence. If the letters "T" and "C" represent fossils in the oldest
rock layer, they are the oldest fossils, or the first fossils formed in the past for this sequence of
rock layers.
2. Now, look for a card that has either a "T" or "C" written on it. Since this card has a common
letter with the first card, it must go on top of the "TC" card. The fossils represented by the letters
on this card are "younger" than the "T" or "C" fossils on the "TC" card which represents fossils
in the oldest rock layer. Sequence the remaining cards by using the same process. When you
finish, you should have a vertical stack of cards with the top card representing the youngest
fossils of this rock sequence and the "TC" card at the bottom of the stack representing the oldest
fossils.
Interpretation Questions:
1) After you have arranged the cards in order, write your sequence of letters (using each letter
only once) on a separate piece of paper. Starting with the top card, the letters should be in order
from youngest to oldest.
2) How do you know that "X" is older than "M"?
3) Explain why "D" in the rock layer represented by DM is the same age as "M."
4) Explain why "D" in the rock layer represented by OXD is older than "D" in the rock layer
represented by DM.
Set A
Procedure Set B:
1) Carefully examine the second set of cards which have sketches of fossils on them. Each card
represents a particular rock layer with a collection of fossils that are found in that particular rock
stratum. All of the fossils represented would be found in sedimentary rocks of marine origin.
Figure 2-A gives some background information on the individual fossils.
2) The oldest rock layer is marked with the letter "M" in the lower left-hand corner. The letters
on the other cards have no significance to the sequencing procedure and should be ignored at this
time. Find a rock layer that has at least one of the fossils you found in the oldest rock layer. This
rock layer would be younger as indicated by the appearance of new fossils in the rock stratum.
Keep in mind that extinction is forever. Once an organism disappears from the sequence it
cannot reappear later. Use this information to sequence the cards in a vertical stack of fossils in
rock strata. Arrange them from oldest to youngest with the oldest layer on the bottom and the
youngest on top.
Interpretation Questions:
1) Using the letters printed in the lower left-hand corner of each card, write the sequence of
letters from the youngest layer to the oldest layer (i.e., from the top of the vertical stack to the
bottom). This will enable your teacher to quickly check whether you have the correct sequence.
2) Which fossil organisms could possibly be used as index fossils?
3) Name three organisms represented that probably could not be used as index fossils and
explain why.
4) In what kinds of rocks might you find the fossils from this activity?
5) State the Law of Superposition and explain how this activity illustrates this law.
Figure 2-A. Sketches of Marine Fossil Organisms (Not to Scale)
Set B

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WHO'S ON FIRST?

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