Lesson 2.

9 Stratification of Rocks
and How It Is Used to Determine
the Age of the Earth
WARLITO ZAMORA CANOY·MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Earth Materials and Processes

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 describe how layers of rocks (stratified rocks) are formed,

 describe the different methods (relative and absolute dating) to determine the age of
stratified rocks, and

 explain how relative and absolute dating were used to determine the subdivisions of
geologic time.

How can we determine the age of the Earth?

Learn about it!

How Layers of Rocks Are Formed

 Most rocks are sedimentary rocks. They are formed from older rocks that have been
broken down by water or wind. The older rocks become sedimentary particles such as
gravel, sand, and mud.

 These particles can also bury dead plants and animals. As time goes by, the particles
accumulate, and those that are at the bottom of the pile become rocks.
 Gravel becomes conglomerate; sand becomes sandstone; and mud becomes shale or
mudstone. The animals or plants buried with them become fossils. These series of events
form the different layers of rocks.

Methods to Determine the Age of Stratified Rocks

 There are two methods of determining the ages of rocks: relative dating and absolute
dating.

 Relative dating is a method of arranging geological events based on the rock sequence.

 Absolute dating is a method that gives an actual date of the rock or period of an event.

Relative Dating

 Relative dating cannot provide actual numerical dates of rocks. It only tells that one rock
is older than the other but does not tell how old each of the rock is.

 In the early mid-1600’s, a Danish scientist, Nicholas Steno, studied the relative positions
of sedimentary rocks. He discovered that they settle based on their relative weight or size
in a fluid. The largest or heaviest particles settle first, and the smallest or the lightest
particles settle last.

 Any slight changes in the particle size or composition may result in the formation of
layers called beds.

 Layering or bedding is a distinct quality of sedimentary rocks. The layered rocks are
also called strata.
 Learn about it!
Principles of Relative Dating

 The law of superposition states that, in any sequence of layered sedimentary rocks, the
top layer is younger than the bottom layer. It is important in the interpretation of the
Earth's history because it indicates the relative age of the rock layers and fossils.

 The law of original horizontality states that most sediments were originally laid down
horizontally. However, many layered rocks are no longer horizontal. Based on the law of
original horizontality, the rocks that were tilted may be due to later events such as tilting
episodes of mountain building.

Learn about it!

Principles of Relative Dating

 The law of lateral continuity states that rock layers extend laterally or out to the sides.
These layers may cover broad surfaces. Erosion may have worn away some parts of the
rock, but the layers on either side of the eroded areas still match.

 The law of cross-cutting relationship states that fault lines and igneous rocks are
younger features that cut through older features of rocks.

Absolute Dating

 Absolute dating or radiometric dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks
by measuring its radioactive decay. A radioactive isotope in the rock decays into a stable
 daughter isotope. The decay occurs at a predictable rate, so the age of the sample could
be determined.

Examples

 Radiocarbon dating for organic remains could date up to 60 000 years.

 K-Ar dating and U-Pb dating for volcanic rocks could date up to five billion years.

Learn about it!

The Geologic Time Scale

 The geologic time scale shows the geologic time intervals based on the geologic rock
records, which describe the relationships between the events that happened throughout
the Earth’s history. The sequence of events is based on the radiometric dating of igneous
rocks associated with the fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks.

 A geologic time scale is revised as more fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks are dated. It is
calibrated by integrating results from relative and absolute dating. Below is an example
of how geologic time scale is calibrated.

How the Geologic Time Scale is Calibrated

 Raw data composed of strata or layers are reviewed.

 The unique succession of events in the layers is recognized based on the laws of relative
dating leading to a chronological order of events.

 Numerical or absolute age of the events is given using absolute dating or radiometric
methods. Absolute dating provides the age for the ash layers while relative dating
 provides at least six strata with relative ages – first and last occurrences of the fossils and
the volcanic eruption events.

Try it!
 Research on how the age of the trees can be determined. How would you relate this to the
topic?

What do you think?

 What is the importance of determining the age of rocks?

Key Points
 Strata or the different layers of rocks are formed when the sediments at the bottom of the
pile become rocks.

 Relative dating is a method of arranging geological events based on the rock sequence.

 Absolute dating is a method that gives an actual date of the rock or period of an event.

 Geologic time scale shows the geologic time intervals based on the geologic rock
records.

 The integration of relative and absolute dating results to a calibrated geological time
scale.

II-9 (Test) Stratification of Rocks and How It Is Used to Determine the Age of the
Earth
Earth Materials and Processes

1. It is a method of dating rocks that gives an actual time.

 A. relative dating

 B. geologic time scale

 C. carbon dating

 D. absolute dating
 2. It is a method of arranging the geologic events based on rock sequence.
 A. relative dating

 B. absolute dating

 C. geologic time scale

 D. radiometric dating

3. This law states that, in any sequence of layered sedimentary rocks, the top layer is
younger than the bottom layer.
 A. law of lateral continuity

 B. law of superposition

 C. law of original horizontality

 D. law of cross-cutting relationship

4. Which of the following statements about the principles of relative dating are false?
 a. The law of cross-cutting relationship states that rock layers extend laterally or out to
the sides.

 b. The law of lateral continuity states that fault lines and igneous rocks are younger
features that cut through older features of rocks.

 c. The law of superposition states that, in any sequence of layered sedimentary rocks, the
top layer is younger than the bottom layer.

 d. The law of original horizontality states that most sediments were originally laid down
horizontally.

 A. a and b

 B. c and d

 C. a and c

 D. b and d
 5. Which of the following is not an example of absolute dating?
 A. radiocarbon dating

 B. K-Ar dating

 C. U-Pb dating

 D. radioactive dating

6. Which of the following statements is true about relative dating?

 A. It is a method used to determine the age of the rocks by measuring its radioactive
decay.

 B. It is a method used for arranging geologic events based on radioactive decay of rocks.

 C. It is a method used to determine that one rock is older than the other based on rock
sequence.

 D. It is a method used to describe relationships between events that happen throughout

history.

7. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Nicholas Steno's contributions?
 a. He studied about the relative positions of sedimentary rocks.

 b. He discovered that sedimentary rocks settle based on their relative weight or size in a
fluid.

 c. He stated that any changes in the particles would result in the formation of rock layers.

 d. He stated that heavier particles would settle at the bottom while lighter particles would
float.

8. Which of the following is NOT true about the relevance of relative dating to geologic
time scale?
 A. Relative dating would confirm the succession of events in the layers that would
establish the chronological series of events.
 B. Relative dating would provide the age of the ash layers and the occurrences of
volcanic eruption events.

 C. Relative dating would provide strata with relative ages and indicate the occurrences of
fossils.

 D. Relative dating would provide ages based on radiometric dating of igneous rocks.

9. Which of the following are true about the relevance of absolute dating to geologic
time scale?
 a. Absolute dating would give numerical or absolute age of the succession of events in
the layers.

 b. Absolute dating would determine the age of the ash layers and the occurrences of
volcanic eruptions.

 c. Absolute dating would provide ages based on radiometric dating of igneous rocks.

 d. Absolute dating would provide ages of fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks.

 A. a and b

 B. b and c

 C. c and d

 D. a and c

10. Which of the following statements is not true about the geologic time scale?
 A. This scale could be revised as more rocks that can be dated are discovered.

 B. This scale is a result of the integration of relative and absolute dating.

 C. This scale shows the relationships between the events that happened throughout the
Earth’s history.

 D. This scale shows the location of where the rocks were discovered.