Which is correct about fossils location and age?
Fossils found in among numerous other fossils are most recent in age.
Fossils found in lower rock layers are older than fossils foun in upper layers.
Fossils found in rock layers closest to earth's surface are the oldest.
Fossils found in rock layers that have been disturbed are the oldest.
Fossils found in lower rock layers are older than fossils found in upper layers.
The correct statement about fossils location and age is: Fossils found in lower rock layers are older than fossils found in upper layers.
The correct statement about fossils location and age is: Fossils found in lower rock layers are older than fossils found in upper layers.
To understand how we determine the age of fossils based on their location, we need to explore the principles of relative dating and the law of superposition.
1. Law of Superposition: This principle states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest rocks are at the bottom, and the youngest rocks are at the top. Over time, layers of sediment build up, burying older rocks beneath newer ones.
2. Principle of Faunal Succession: This principle suggests that different groups of organisms, known as fossil assemblages, appear in a definite and predictable order throughout the layers of rock. Certain species lived during specific time periods, and their fossils can be used to date the rocks in which they are found.
Based on these principles, we can conclude that fossils found in lower rock layers are generally older than fossils found in upper layers. This is because the lower layers were formed earlier and have been more deeply buried over time. Fossils found in upper layers are typically more recent and have been preserved closer to the Earth's surface.
Fossils found among numerous other fossils do not necessarily indicate their age. It is possible for different fossil species to coexist and be preserved together in the same layer.
Fossils found in rock layers that have been disturbed, such as through geological processes like folding or faulting, do not necessarily represent the oldest fossils. The disturbance could have altered the original order of the layers, making it more challenging to determine their relative ages accurately.
So, in summary, to determine the relative age of fossils, we rely on the principle of superposition and the presence of specific fossil assemblages. Fossils found in lower rock layers are older, while those found in upper layers are more recent.