Geologic Time Vocabulary

A principle stating that geologic processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past.

• relative age

• inclusion

• uniformitarianism

• fossilization

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The age of rocks and geologic features compared with other nearby rocks and features.

• relative age

• inclusion

• uniformitarianism

• fossilization

The the numerical age, in years, of a rock or object.

• relative age

• inclusion

• absolute age

• fossilization

The dating of events that places rock layers, geologic events and fossils in chronological order.

• radioactive dating

• relative dating

• absolute age dating

• timestamping

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are on the bottom.

• superposition

• inclusion

• lateral continuity

• cross-cutting relationships

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The principle that most rock-forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers.

• superposition

• inclusion

• original horizontality

• cross-cutting relationships

A piece of an older rock that becomes a part of a new rock.

• superposition

• inclusion

• absolute age

• cross-cutting relationships

The principle that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature that it cuts across is older.

• superposition

• inclusion

• lateral continuity

• cross-cutting relationships

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The preserved remains or evidence of past living organisms.

• sedimentary rock

• inclusion

• lateral rock

• fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The extinction of many species on Earth within a short period of time.

• Big Bang Theory

• mass inclusions

• mass extinctions

• fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1