Questions and Answers
What is the Law of Superposition?
What is the law of Cross-Cutting Relationships?
When a fault cuts through other rocks, the intrusion is younger than the rocks affected.
What is the law of Inclusions?
Inclusions are pieces of one rock unit contained in another, making the inclusions older than the rock containing them.
What is the law of Lateral Continuity?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the law of Original Horizontality?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the laws related to relative dating?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Law of Superposition
- In an undeformed sequence of rock, each bed is older than the one above it and younger than the one below.
- This principle helps establish the chronological order of rock layers.
Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships
- A fault or magma intrusion that cuts through existing rocks is younger than the rocks it affects.
- This principle aids in determining the relative ages of geological features.
Law of Inclusions
- Inclusions are fragments of one rock unit contained within another rock unit.
- The rock containing the inclusions is younger than the inclusions themselves, which must predate their incorporation.
Law of Lateral Continuity
- Rock layers are deposited in continuous sheets that extend outward until an environmental change occurs.
- This principle allows for the identification and correlation of rock layers across distances.
Law of Original Horizontality
- Sediments are deposited in flat, horizontal layers due to the force of gravity.
- Deviations from horizontal layers indicate subsequent geological events.
Summary of Key Laws
- OH: Original Horizontality
- LC: Lateral Continuity
- I: Inclusions
- cCR: Cross-Cutting Relationships
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of relative dating in geology with flashcards covering key concepts like the Law of Superposition and the Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships. This quiz is perfect for those studying earth sciences or preparing for geology examinations.