Name _______________________________________________________
Period ____________
Geologic Cross-Section and Column
Warm Up:
1. What is the youngest rock layer? ___________________
2. Is the extrusion older or younger than rock layer B?
_______________________________________________
3. Is the fault older or younger than rock layer A?
_______________________________________________
4. How could a geologist use the fossil in rock layer B to
date a rock layer in another location? ________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
PURPOSE: Using relative dating techniques, each student will construct a geologic crosssection and a corresponding geologic column.
MATERIALS:
 Several strips of different colored
construction paper
 1 pencil
 1 glue stick
 1 pair of scissors
 1 colored marker/colored pencil/crayon
PROCEDURE:
1. Use the pencil to draw a rough draft of a geologic cross-section on the back of this
paper. The cross-section must include a minimum of the following:
a. 6 different rock layers
d. Bonus – folded layers
b. 1 unconformity
e. Bonus – faulted layers
c. 1 igneous intrusion
2. Use the scissors and construction paper to create the geologic cross-section. Cut the
construction paper into the shapes of your rough draft, put them together on the table,
adjust your layers for any intrusions, unconformities, folds, or faults, and then paste
them in the proper order to the back of this paper.
3. Use the marker/colored pencil/crayon to label each of the layers with an appropriate
rock NAME. Use your book to find some examples of the three types of rocks to use.
Geologic Column
4. Next to your cross-section, write the
12. unconformity (youngest)
correct geologic column, starting with
11. alluvium
10. black shale
1 at the bottom and working your
9. unconformity
way up. Here is an example of a
8. conglomerate
geologic column with 12 layers:
7. unconformity
6. fault
5. fold
4. quartzite
3. slate
2. shale
1. limestone (oldest)
Geologic Column
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Geologic Cross-Section