EARTH SCIENCE
Grade
________/_________
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
Name:
Date:
Cohort:
CATALYST
1.)
2.)
3.)
OBJECTIVE
SWBAT identify the characteristics of index fossils and use fossils to correlate rock layers [LAB]
Criteria For Success (CFS)
Students will receive a minimum score of an 80% on the exit ticket
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
1
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
Geologists can determine the relative ages of the rock layers in a rock formation. But how do they
determine whether the rocks or geologic events occurring at one location are of the same age as
those at another location? The process of showing that rocks or geologic events occurring at
different locations are of the same age is called correlation.
Geologists have developed a system for correlating rocks by looking for similarities in
composition and rock layer sequences at different locations. Certain fossils, called index fossils,
existed for a very short time and were distributed over a large geographic area. They aid the
geologist in correlating sedimentary rock layers.
OBJECTIVE: You will construct a geologic history of a region by observing rock layers in different
localities.
PROCEDURE A: The first set of four diagrams represent 4 outcrops at different locations.
1. Reconstruct the complete sequence of events. Assume that the oldest rocks are on
the bottom and the youngest are on top (i.e. Law of Superposition)
2. Draw in the layers in the appropriate column of the Report Sheet.
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
2
EARTH SCIENCE
Regents Earth Science
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
9TH GRADE
3
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Why do you think some rock layers are missing from the sequence in some outcrops?
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2. What does a field geologist look for in rock outcrops to help identify the sequence in
different rock layers? What is helpful?
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Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
4
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
Procedure B: The second set of diagrams identifies four types of index fossils and shows two
columns of fossil bearing rock strata.
1. Reconstruct the complete sequence of events and draw the layers (with the fossils if
present) on the appropriate column on the next page.
2. By referring to your Reference Table, identify any layer for which you have enough
evidence to determine its age. On the Report Sheet, label its age and period/epoch. The
abbreviation “mybp” stands for millions of years before present.
Index of Different Geologic Periods:
Rock Strata Containing Index Fossils
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
5
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
Rock Layer
Geologic Period/Epoch
(if possible)
What characteristics make up a good index fossil?
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____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
6
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
Procedure C: Answer the following:
1.)
Answer:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
7
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
2.)
Based on fossil evidence, determine the geologic period during which the unconformity formed
Answer:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
8
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
3.)
Rock Unit VII: ___________
Rock Unit VIII: ___________
Rock Unit IX: ___________
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
9
Conclusion
Discussion
Questions
Procedures
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
4
3
2
1
0
Procedures A, B. and C complete
and accurate. Layers are labeled and
time periods included where
necessary.
Procedures A and B complete
and accurate. Layers may be
unlabeled or lacking dates.
Procedures A, B. and C
complete and mostly
accurate.
Procedures A
and B complete
but only
somewhat
accurate.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not present
All questions answered in complete,
grammatically accurate sentences.
Answers are thorough and
scientifically accurate. Examples are
used to illustrate concepts as needed.
All questions answered in
complete, grammatically
accurate sentences. Most
answers are thorough and
scientifically accurate.
Examples may be lacking.
All questions answered.
Some answers are
scientifically accurate.
Most questions
answered,
though
inaccurate
and/or lacking
complete
sentences.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not present
Writes a clear conclusion that
explains the necessity of using
outcrops from several locations to
build a full sequence of events.
Provides at least three real-life
examples to support explanation.
Writes a conclusion that
explains the necessity of using
outcrops from several
locations to build a full
sequence of events. Provides
two real-life examples to
support explanation.
Writes a conclusion
that explains the
necessity of using
outcrops from several
locations to build a full
sequence of events.
Provides one real-life
examples to support
explanation.
Conclusion does
not adequately
explain
importance of
using multiple
outcrops.
Irrelevant,
illegible or
not present
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
10
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
HOMEWORK:
1.)
Index Fossil 1: __________________________
Index Fossil 2: __________________________
Answer: ________________________________
(Hint: The fossils look like what kind of organisms today? Where do those organisms live?)
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
11
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
2.)
3.)
Answer: ______________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
12
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
4.)
5.)
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
13
EARTH SCIENCE
3.6 (INDEX FOSSILS & CORRELATION [LAB]) • HISTORY
OF THE EARTH
6.)
7.)
Regents Earth Science
9TH GRADE
14