The document discusses relative and absolute dating methods in geology. Relative dating, like the law of superposition, allows determining the sequence of events but not the actual age. Absolute dating techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, provide a numerical age by measuring radioactive decay. Radiocarbon dating works by comparing the ratio of carbon-14 and carbon-12 isotopes in an organic sample to determine when it stopped exchanging carbon with its environment.

1. IV. Relative Dating

2. Relative dating
tells us the
sequence in which
events occurred,
not how long ago
they occurred.
Chronological order
- relational

3. a. Law of
Superposition
The law of superposition states that in an
undeformed, undisturbed sequence of
sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than
the one above it and younger than the one
below it.

4. Undistrubed Rock Layer

5. A Record of Uplift,
Erosion, and
Deposition

6. Distrubed Rock Layer

7. b. Original
Horizontality
The principle of original horizontality
means that layers of sediment are
generally deposited in a horizontal position.
Draw it
out!

8. c. Index fossils
• Index fossils are used to determine
approximate age. Index fossils are
widespread geographically, are
limited to a short span of geologic
time, and occur in large numbers.
FOUND IN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

9. Index
Fossils

10. d. Geological Column
Geologic column is an ideal sequence
of rock layers that contains all the
known fossils and rock formations on
Earth arranged from oldest to
youngest.

11. Draw it
out!

12. V. Absolute Dating

13. Absolute Dating –
• the process of
establishing the age
of an object by
determining the
number of years it
has existed.
• It’s the most precise.
It gives an actual
number to the age

15. A. Radioactivity
 Radioactivity - the
spontaneous decay
of certain unstable
atomic nuclei

16. 1. Half - life
 A half-life is the amount of time necessary
for of the nuclei in a sample (parent)
toone-half decay to a stable isotope
(daughter).

17.  Radiocarbon dating is the method for
determining age by comparing the amount
of carbon-14 to the amount of carbon-12 in
a sample.
1. When an organism dies, the amount of
carbon-14 it contains gradually decreases
as it decays.
2. By comparing the ratio of carbon14 to
carbon-12 in a sample, radiocarbon dates
can be determined.
B. Carbon-14

19. Radioactive atom has an
unstable nucleus that decays
a. Radiation is given off
b. Decay is at a constant rate
c. Decay material is formed
d.Half-life is the amount of
time for ½ of the
radioactive element to decay