The Relative Age of Rocks

Front

The number of years that have passed since the rock formed is the rock's

Back

absolute age

Front

The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks is the rock's

Back

relative age

Front

A formation of igneous rock on Earth's surface is known as

Back

an extrusion

Front

A break in Earth's crust is called

Back

a fault

Front

Geologists use the law of _________ to determine the relative ages of sedimentary rock layers.

Back

superposition

Front

A mass of igneous rock below the Earth's surface is called a __________/

Back

intrusion

Front

Because of ___________, most of the geologic record of sedimentary rock layers has been lost.

Back

erosion

Front

A gap in the geologic record is known as a(n)_______________.

Back

unconformity

Front

The position in which rock layers appear can be changed by gaps in the geologic record and by ______________.

Back

folding

Front

According to the law of __________, in horizontal sedimentary rock layers the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest layer is at the top.

Back

superposition