Investigating Rock Strata

_____________ determines the age of a rock by comparing it to the rocks around it.

• Relative dating

• Absolute dating

• Dependent dating

• Independent dating

Rock layers below are __________ rock layers above.

• younger than

• older than

• the same age as

• either older or younger than

What kind of rock does absolute dating work for?

• igneous

• metamorphic

• sedimentary

• thickly layered

For the law of superposition to hold true, the layers of rock must be _____________.

• eroded

• weathered

• igneous

• undisturbed

It is reasonable to guess that rock layers on either side of a gap are the same age because of the principle of ___________.

• superposition

• lateral continuity

• original horizontality

• cross-cutting relationships

What can cause rock layers to fold?

• gravity

• braces

• volcanic eruptions

• tectonic forces

According to the principle of ____________, rock layers form in ________ layers due to gravity.

• superposition; consecutive

• lateral continuity; vertical

• original horizontality; horizontal

• cross-cutting relationships; random

If an igneous rock cuts a sedimentary rock in half vertically, which rock is older?

• igneous

• sedimentary

• they are the same age

• there is no way to tell

What is the name of the law that states that a rock feature cutting across another rock feature is the younger of the two rocks?

• law of superposition

• principle of lateral continuity

• principle of original horizontality

• law of cross-cutting relationships

Which of the following is a feature that is applicable to the law of cross-cutting relationships?

• river erosion

• igneous intrusion

• horizontal igneous layer

• horizontal sedimentary layer