Relative Dating Practice

You can tell that the oldest rocks are at the bottom of an undisturbed rock sequence by using the principle of:

• uniformitarianism
• original horizontality
• superposition
• cross-cutting relationships

The geologic principle that states that sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal layers is the principle of:

• uniformitarianism
• original horizontality
• superposition
• cross-cutting relationships

You can tell that a fault is younger than the rock it cuts across by applying the principle of:

• uniformitarianism
• original horizontality
• superposition
• cross-cutting relationships

The principle that states the processes occurring today have occurred since Earth formed is known as the principle of:

• uniformitarianism
• original horizontality
• superposition
• cross-cutting relationships

What is the matching of outcrops from one geographic region to another called?

• correlation
• unconformity
• superposition
• uniformitarianism

A buried erosional surface in the rock record is a(n):

• correlation
• unconformity
• superposition
• uniformitarianism

In an undisturbed rock sequence, the youngest rock layer is located:

• at the bottom of the sequence
• at the top of the sequence
• below the sedimentary rock layer
• below the unconformity

The relative age of a rock layer that contains inclusions is:

• older than the source of the inclusions
• older than the layer below it
• younger than the source of the inclusions
• the same as the intrusion that cuts across it

A clue that geolgists can use to determine the relative age of a rock is a(n):

• index fossil
• outcrop
• uniformitarianism
• radioactive isotope

Placing geologic events in sequential order as determined by their position in the geologic record is:

• absolute dating
• correlation
• relative dating
• uniformitarianism