BM2-4 Evidence of Earth’s History Found in Rocks
Standard: 1c and I&E 1i
Reading: Chapter 12.1-12.3 (p.336-350)
Key terms:
1. Relative dating
2. Law of superposition
3. Unconformity
4. Correlation- the process by which rock layers in
different regions are matched.
5. Fossil
6. Principle of fossil succession
7. Index fossils
8. Radioactivity
9. Half-life
10. Radiometric dating
Key questions:
What is uniformitarianism? AND how does its acceptance affect the way that we view Earth’s history?
What information has the rock record provided geologists?
How can relative dating be used in geology?
In general, how are rocks usually layered by age?
How is disruption in the usual process of rock layering seen? What can cause an interruption of their alignment?
What is needed to correlate rock layers that are separated by great distances?
How are index fossils used to date rocks?
Give an example of how fossils can be used to interpret a type of environment that used to exist.
What do geologists need to be able to know and measure in a rock to determine its age using radiometric
dating?
10. What is radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dating used to determine? What are its limitations?
11. What does radiometric dating of Earth’s rocks, moon rocks and meteorites tell about the age of the Earth and
the solar system?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
BM2-4 Evidence of Earth’s History Found in Rocks
Standard: 1c and I&E 1i
Reading: Chapter 12.1-12.3 (p.336-350)
Key terms:
1. Relative dating
2. Law of superposition
3. Unconformity
4. Correlation- the process by which rock layers in
different regions are matched.
5. Fossil
6. Principle of fossil succession
7. Index fossils
8. Radioactivity
9. Half-life
10. Radiometric dating
Key questions:
1. What is uniformitarianism? AND how does its acceptance affect the way that we view Earth’s history?
2. What information has the rock record provided geologists?
3. How can relative dating be used in geology?
4. In general, how are rocks usually layered by age?
5. How is disruption in the usual process of rock layering seen? What can cause an interruption of their alignment?
6. What is needed to correlate rock layers that are separated by great distances?
7. How are index fossils used to date rocks?
8. Give an example of how fossils can be used to interpret a type of environment that used to exist.
9. What do geologists need to be able to know and measure in a rock to determine its age using radiometric
dating?
10. What is radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dating used to determine? What are its limitations?
11. What does radiometric dating of Earth’s rocks, moon rocks and meteorites tell about the age of the Earth and
the solar system?
BM2-4 Evidence of Earth’s History Found in Rocks
Standard: 1c and I&E 1i
Reading: Chapter 12.1-12.3 (p.336-350)
Key terms:
1. Relative dating
2. Law of superposition
3. Unconformity
4. Correlation- the process by which rock layers in
different regions are matched.
5. Fossil
6. Principle of fossil succession
7. Index fossils
8. Radioactivity
9. Half-life
10. Radiometric dating
Key questions:
What is uniformitarianism? AND how does its acceptance affect the way that we view Earth’s history?
What information has the rock record provided geologists?
How can relative dating be used in geology?
In general, how are rocks usually layered by age?
How is disruption in the usual process of rock layering seen? What can cause an interruption of their alignment?
What is needed to correlate rock layers that are separated by great distances?
How are index fossils used to date rocks?
Give an example of how fossils can be used to interpret a type of environment that used to exist.
What do geologists need to be able to know and measure in a rock to determine its age using radiometric
dating?
10. What is radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dating used to determine? What are its limitations?
11. What does radiometric dating of Earth’s rocks, moon rocks and meteorites tell about the age of the Earth and
the solar system?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
BM 2-4 Evidence of Earth’s History in Rocks - Pictures