WHICH OF THE FOLLIWING BEST DESCRIBES THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT OF SUPERPOSITION
1. Strata with fossils are generally deposited on strata with no fossils
2. older strata generally are deposited on younger strata without intervening,intermediate age strata
3. Older fossils in younger strata indicate a locally inverted geologic times scale
4. any sedimentary deposit accumulates on older rock or sediment layers
I'VE BEEN ON THIS QUESTION FOR HOURS!! PLEASE HELP
To determine which of the options best describes the fundamental concept of superposition, we need to understand what superposition means in the context of geology. Superposition is a principle that states that in an undisturbed sequence of rock layers, each layer is younger than the one beneath it and older than the one above it.
Let's analyze each of the options to see which one aligns with this concept:
1. Strata with fossils are generally deposited on strata with no fossils: This option does not directly address the principle of superposition. While it mentions the deposition of strata with fossils on strata without fossils, it doesn't explicitly discuss the relative ages of the layers.
2. Older strata generally are deposited on younger strata without intervening, intermediate-age strata: This option suggests that older strata are deposited directly on top of younger strata without any intermediate-age strata. This aligns with the principle of superposition, as it implies that the layers stack upon each other according to their relative ages. Therefore, option 2 appears to be a good candidate.
3. Older fossils in younger strata indicate a locally inverted geologic time scale: This option discusses older fossils found in younger strata, indicating a potential inversion of the geologic time scale. While it highlights a phenomenon related to relative age, it does not explicitly mention the general principle of superposition.
4. Any sedimentary deposit accumulates on older rock or sediment layers: This option suggests that any sedimentary deposit accumulates on older rock or sediment layers. While this concept is related to the formation of sedimentary deposits, it does not explicitly describe the relative ages of the layers.
Based on the analysis, option 2, "older strata generally are deposited on younger strata without intervening, intermediate-age strata," best describes the fundamental concept of superposition.