RELATIVE AGE DATING
LAB ACTIVITY
1. Were any layers of
rock deposited after the
igneous intrusion
happened? (Explain your
reasons)
No, the igneous intrusion
goes through all of the
rock layers.
2. What is the youngest
(most recent) event that
happened in this diagram?
(Explain how you know)
a. The fault, it goes
through the top
layer, or
b. The intrusion, it
goes through the top
layer, or
c. The erosion at the
surface of Earth
which will become a
future unconformity.
3. Is it possible to determine
whether the igneous
intrusion formed before or
after the fault occurred? If
so, which one is younger?
No you cannot tell. Both
crosscut the top
limestone but they do
not crosscut each
other.
1.What is the
youngest (most
recent) event that
happened in this
diagram? (explain
why you think so)
The intrusion on the
top right.
2. Is the igneous intrusion
on the left older or
younger than the
unconformity (erosional
surface) nearest the
surface? EXPLAIN.
The intrusion is older
than the unconformity
because the fault is
younger than the
intrusion and the fault
is older than the
unconformity.
3. Are the two igneous
intrusions shown the
same age? HOW DO YOU
KNOW?
No. The intrusion on
the right is younger
than the sandstone on
top while the intrusion
on the left is older than
the sandstone on top.
The fault is the clue.
The fault is younger
than the intrusion on
the left. but older than
the intrusion on the
right.
4. Which two layers of
rock may have been much
thicker at one time than
they are now?
The sandstone in the
middle (#4) and the
shale at the top (#7).
Both have an
unconformity
(erosional surface) at
their top indicating
rock material has been
worn away.
THE END…..
PUT THIS LAB PAPER
INTO YOUR
NOTEBOOK.