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    Matching Rock Layers

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    Joverose Manalo Villamor
    Geologists can determine the relative ages of rock layers in a formation and correlate rock layers between locations. They look for similarities in composition and layer sequences. Certain fossils called index fossils existed for a short time over a large area and help correlate sedimentary layers. The document describes procedures where students observe rock layers at different outcrops to reconstruct sequences of events, match rock layers between columns using rock types, and date layers using index fossils. Students answer questions about missing layers, distinguishing characteristics, processes forming unconformities, dating using volcanic ash, fault timing, and metamorphic transitions. It is necessary to observe multiple outcrops to determine the correct sequence of events.

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    Matching Rock Layers

    Uploaded by

    Joverose Manalo Villamor
    506 views8 pages
    Geologists can determine the relative ages of rock layers in a formation and correlate rock layers between locations. They look for similarities in composition and layer sequences. Certain fossils called index fossils existed for a short time over a large area and help correlate sedimentary layers. The document describes procedures where students observe rock layers at different outcrops to reconstruct sequences of events, match rock layers between columns using rock types, and date layers using index fossils. Students answer questions about missing layers, distinguishing characteristics, processes forming unconformities, dating using volcanic ash, fault timing, and metamorphic transitions. It is necessary to observe multiple outcrops to determine the correct sequence of events.

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    Geologists can determine the relative ages of rock layers in a formation and correlate rock layers between locations. They look for similarities in composition and layer sequences. Certain fossils called index fossils existed for a short time over a large area and help correlate sedimentary layers. The document describes procedures where students observe rock layers at different outcrops to reconstruct sequences of events, match rock layers between columns using rock types, and date layers using index fossils. Students answer questions about missing layers, distinguishing characteristics, processes forming unconformities, dating using volcanic ash, fault timing, and metamorphic transitions. It is necessary to observe multiple outcrops to determine the correct sequence of events.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    506 views8 pages

    Matching Rock Layers

    Uploaded by

    Joverose Manalo Villamor
    Geologists can determine the relative ages of rock layers in a formation and correlate rock layers between locations. They look for similarities in composition and layer sequences. Certain fossils called index fossils existed for a short time over a large area and help correlate sedimentary layers. The document describes procedures where students observe rock layers at different outcrops to reconstruct sequences of events, match rock layers between columns using rock types, and date layers using index fossils. Students answer questions about missing layers, distinguishing characteristics, processes forming unconformities, dating using volcanic ash, fault timing, and metamorphic transitions. It is necessary to observe multiple outcrops to determine the correct sequence of events.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Name________________________________Date_______Period_____
    Matching Rock Layers
    Introduction
    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 help the geologist with
    correlating sedimentary rock layers.

    Objective
     You will be able to construct a geologic history of a region by observing
    rock layers in different localities.

    Vocabulary
    Absolute Age_____________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    Relative Age______________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    Index Fossil______________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________
    Correlation_______________________________________________________
    _________________________________________________________________

    Matching Rock Layers 95


    Procedure A:
    The diagram below represents four outcrops at different locations.

    1. Reconstruct the complete sequence of events. Assume that the oldest


    rocks are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

    2. Draw in the layers on the appropriate column of the Report Sheet. Use
    your Reference Tables to label the type of rock in each layer.

    Matching Rock Layers 96


    Procedure B:
    The diagram below represents three different outcrops. Using the rock type of
    the strata, correlate the columns.

    1. Draw lines representing boundaries from one column to the next.

    2. Reconstruct the complete column in the blank column on the Report


    Sheet. Assume the oldest rocks are on the bottom and the youngest
    rocks are on the top.

    Matching Rock Layers 97


    Procedure C:
    The diagrams below identify four types of index fossils and shows four
    columns of fossil-bearing rock strata. Assume overturning has not occurred.

    1. Reconstruct the complete sequence of events and draw the layers (with
    the fossils if present) on the appropriate column of your Report Sheet.

    2. By referring to your Reference Tables, identify any layer for which you
    have enough evidence to determine its age.
    a. On the Report Sheet, label its age and period/ epoch. The
    abbreviation “MYBP” stands for millions of years before present. It
    may be expressed as a range of several million years.

    Matching Rock Layers 98


    Report Sheet

    Date Geologic
    (MYBP) Period
    Procedure A Procedure B Procedure C

    <

    <

    <

    <

    <

    <

    <

    <

    <

    Matching Rock Layers 99


    Matching Rock Layers 100
    Discussion Questions:
    1. Explain why some rock layers can be missing from a geologic sequence
    in some outcrops but not others.

    2. What characteristics could a geologist use to distinguish between rock


    layers?

    3. Procedure A questions:
    a. State the parent rock of the layer found at the bottom of Outcrops
    A&C. Describe a process that could have changed the parent rock
    into its present form.

    b. What processes could have led to the unconformities in the


    outcrops?

    4. Procedure B questions:
    a. Why can volcanic ash be used to date events in a similar way to
    index fossils?

    b. Did fault X-Y form before or after the igneous intrusion? Provide
    evidence.

    Matching Rock Layers 101


    c. What type of metamorphic rock would most likely be found at the
    transition zone between the igneous intrusion and the…

    i. Gray limestone? _______________________________

    ii. Red sandstone? _______________________________

    5. Procedure C questions:
    a. What is the youngest possible age of the bottom layer of your
    completed sequence?

    b. How many years are represented between the top and bottom
    fossiliferous layers? Provide evidence.

    c. Explain how it is possible that a specific type of fossil may be found


    in one outcrop but absent from that same layer at another outcrop.

    Conclusion: Why is it necessary to observe the rock layers at several


    different outcrops in order to determine the correct sequence of events?

    Matching Rock Layers 102

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