EARTH

History and
Geologic Time
 EARTH’S
HISTORY
Are the current features of Earth the same as its features 4.6
Gya?
NO, definitely.
Earth has undergone evolutionary processes that
changed its features.
Geologists reconstruct the sequence of events from the
study of petrology, stratigraphy, and paleontology.
 EARTH’S
HISTORY
PETROLOGY is a branch of geology that deals
with the origin, composition, structure and
classification of rocks.
STRATIGRAPHY is the study of rock layers
(strata) and layering (stratifications).
PALEONTOLOGY studies the life that existed
prior to the Holocene epoch and also studies
fossils to determine how they evolved and
interacted with the environment.
 EARTH’S
HISTORY
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE
Represents the interval of
time occupied by the
geologic history of Earth.
It provides a meaningful
time frame within which
events geologic past are
arranged.
 RELATIVE &
ABSOLUTE
-methods used to measure
DATING
geologic time.
Relative dating place events
or rocks in their chronological
sequence of occurrence
without knowing their actual
age; cannot tell exactly how
many years have passed
since the event happened.
 RELATIVE
DATING
Principle of Original
Horizontality
-sedimentary rocks are
deposited as horizontal or
nearly horizontal layers.
-deformation
 RELATIVE
DATING
Principle of
Superposition
-In the sequence of the
sedimentary rocks, the layer
at the bottom of the
sequence is the oldest,
and the successively higher
levels are successively
younger.
 RELATIVE
DATING
Principle of Cross-
cutting Relationships
-Geologic features or
igneous intrusions are
younger than the
rocks they cut across.
 RELATIVE
DATING
Principle of
Inclusion
-rock or rock
fragments within
another rock layer is
molder than the rock
layer they were
 RELATIVE &
ABSOLUTE
-methods used to measure
DATING
geologic time.
ABSOLUTE DATING
places actual age of rocks
and events.
method used in absolute
dating technique is based on the
decay rate of certain
radioactive isotopes within
 FOSSILS: EVIDENCE OF A
PAST LIFE
Fossils is a remnant or trace of organisms of a past geologic
age.
CLASSIFICATION OF FOSSILS
True form fossils are the entire animals or plants trapped
and preserved in ice, tar, or other material.
Ex. Remains of prehistoric elephants or mammoths found in
the Arctic tundra of Siberia and Alaska
Mold fossils are hollow impressions of a living thing in a
rock. The mold only reflects the shape and surface of marking
 FOSSILS: EVIDENCE OF A
PAST LIFE
Fossils is a remnant or trace of organisms of a past
geologic age.
CLASSIFICATION OF FOSSILS
Cast Fossils created when mold fossils get filled with
mineral. The minerals harden and form a replica of the
original fossil.
Trace Fossils or Ichnofossils are impressions on rocks
that showed various activities. Fossils can be footprints,