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Type of Evidence: 1)Tree rings 2) trace fossils 3) mold fossils 4) petrified wood What can be learned: A) ancient trees B) shape of organisms C) footprints D) recent weather patterns
Homework : Vocab Set 3, Day 1
5.01 Interpret ways in which rocks, fossils, and ice cores record Earth's geologic history and the evolution of life including:
Geologic Time Scale. Index Fossils. Law of Superposition. Unconformity. Evidence for climate change. Extinction of species. Catastrophic events.
EQ: How can we determine the age of various rock layers? Obj: TLW be able to describe the different methods for determining the age of rock layers.
Table of Contents
Date Session #
12 Tree Ring diagram Ice Core diagram 9/29-30 13 Rock Layer Diagrams Index Fossils & Superposition Notes
Activity
Page #
26 27 28 29
9/27-28
Dating Rock Layers Notes p29 Relative Age: rocks age when compared to the ages of other rocks. Layers of rock that are younger will be deposited on top of layers of rocks that are older. Index Fossil: a fossil that is widely distributed and represents a type of organism that existed only briefly
Create your own relative age example and write it into your notes. Be prepared to share
Law of Superposition: in horizontal sedimentary rock layers, the oldest is on the bottom and each higher layer is younger than the layer underneath it
Stack three layers of clay (lightly), draw it into the superposition area of your notes, label youngest and oldest layer
Overturning: Horizontal rock layers tilt or fold due to movement of tectonic plates.
Using the layers created previously, gently fold your layers in half (like a taco). Draw it into the overturning section of your notes. Label the youngest and oldest layers.
oldest
middle
youngest
Unconformity: a gap in the geologic record showing where some rock layers have been lost because of weathering and erosion.
Mechanical weathering: wind, water examples Chemical weathering: acid rain examples Biological tree roots
Carefully unfold your rock layers. Gently remove the top layer. Erode (remove) part of the middle layer Replace the top layer Draw this into the unconformity section of your notes. Label the part of your diagram that is the unconformity.
Biological Weathering
Unconformity
Fault: a break in earths crust. When examining rock layers, the fault will have occurred after the layers it cuts across and before the continuous horizontal layers above it.
Fault: a break in earths crust. When examining rock layers, the fault will have occurred after the layers it cuts across and before the continuous horizontal layers above it.
Happened: Sixth Fifth Fourth Third Second First
Intrusion: lava can cut/melt through rock layers. It cools and hardens into igneous rock on the surface. It is younger than the sedimentary layers it cuts through and may be older than the sedimentary layers above it.
Carefully layer the three clay colors again Insert your pencil through the bottom two layers, make sure you can see it Draw the clay model into the intrusion/extrusion section of your notes Label the youngest and oldest layer, label the intrusion.
Intrustion
Absolute Age: the number of years since rock has formed. Radioactive Dating: Gives the absolute age of rock by using the unique half-life of an element. Half-Life: the length of time it takes for half the atoms in a sample to change from one form to another form. Radioactive elements with long half-lives are better for determining the absolute age of rocks.
You cannot use radioactive dating on sedimentary rocks because THEY ARE MADE FROM BITS AND PIECES OF OTHER ROCKS.