Relative Dating

Which lettered rock layer is the youngest?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The youngest rock unit shown in the cross section is

• breccia

• conglomerate

• sandstone

• shale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The geologic cross section below shows rock layers that have not been overturned.

The fault is older than the:

• slate

• marble

• unconformity

• shale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The geologic cross section includes an unconformity and an igneous intrusion.

Which two events produced the geologic unconformity in the rock record?

• intrusion of magma, followed by contact metamorphism

• intrusion of magma, followed by erosion of rock layers

• erosion of rock layers, followed by deposition of more sediments

• erosion of rock layers, followed by intrusion of magma

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Columns A, B, C and D below represent outcrops, of the same sequence of bedrock layers, found within 20 miles of each other. The rock layers have not been overturned.

Which surface bedrock is youngest in age?

• siltstone

• dolostone

• limestone

• sandstone

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which statement best explains why the volcanic ash layers are useful for correlating the relative ages of the bedrock in the three outcrops?

• The ash was deposited over a large area when the volcano erupted

• There are no fossils found within the volcanic ash.

• The volcanic eruptions that produced the ash layer occurred over a long period of geologic time.

• The volcanic ash is found between many different layers of bedrock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The cross section below represents several rock units within Earth's crust. Letter A represents Earth's surface. Letters B, C, D indicate boundaries between rock units. One of the unconformities is labeled.

Which lettered boundary is most likely another unconformity?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The cross section below shows four rock units, A, B, C and D.

Which rock unit is youngest in age?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The cross section below shows rock layers A, B, C, D and fault F.

Which sequence places the rock layers and fault in order from oldest to youngest?

• D --> C --> B --> A --> F

• A --> B --> C --> D --> F

• F --> D --> C --> B --> A

• F --> A --> B --> C --> D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which fossil appears to have the best characteristics of an index fossil?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1