GEOSC 010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Relative Dating, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic
Document Summary
9. 1 creating a time scale relative dating principles. Identify how to assign numerical dates to sedimentary rocks: differentiate between numerical and relative dating, learn the principles of relative dating. Identify the differences between the three types of unconformities. Rocks record the immense geologic and biological history of the earth. In order to properly interpret that history, the recorded events need to be put into sequence. Therefore, the timing of events is important to consider when studying geology. Numerical dates are an actual number of years, while relative dates relate to other events in the future or past. Measuring the rate of radioactive decay of certain elements within rocks allows scientists to obtain numerical dates. Before the discovery of radioactivity, dating was done only using relative dating. Relative dates organize events in a rock"s history into a sequence of formation. It establishes which rocks were laid down and in what order. There are a couple of principles that govern relative dating.
