Relative Dating & Rock Correlation

Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?

• trace fossil
• index fossil
• radioactive fossil
• unconformity fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The index fossil of a type of trilobite is discovered in layer A of a set of rock layers found at three different sites of a field investigation. Which conclusion can be made about the rocks in layer A at all three sites?

• The rocks are all different ages
• The rocks are all about the same age
• The rocks were formed from melting magma
• The rocks were formed during a catastrophic event

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Fossil remains of a trilobite are most likely to be found in which type of rock?

• igneous
• volcanic
• sedimentary
• metamorphic

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth's age, much like the rings of a tree.
• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rocks, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which statement best supports the inference that most of Earth's present-day land surfaces have, at one time, been covered by water?

• Volcanic eruptions contain large amounts of water vapor

• Coral reefs formed, in the past, along the edges of many continents

• Seafloor spreading has pulled landmasses apart and pushed them together.

• Sedimentary bedrock of marine origin covers large areas of Earth's continents.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Volcanic ash can be used as a time marker to correlate rock layers because the ash

• is deposited rapidly over a large area

• represents a buried erosional surface

• forms intrusive igneous rock

• cuts across rock layers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What lettered rock layer is the youngest?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Organisms that later became good index fossils lived over a

• wide geographic area and existed for a long geologic time

• wide geographic area and existed for a short geologic time

• limited geographic area and existed for a long geologic time

• limited geographic area and existed for a short geologic time

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How does the law of crosscutting explain the age of a fault?

• The fault is younger than the rocks above it.
• The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.
• The fault is older than the rocks above it.
• The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

What are the relative ages of the features in order from oldest to youngest?

• Limestone, Basalt, Fault, Siltstone
• Siltstone, Fault, Basalt, Limestone
• Limestone, Fault, Basalt, Siltstone
• Limestone, Siltstone, Fault, Basalt

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4