33 Principles of Relative Dating.

What are the principles of age dating?

The Principle of Original Horizontality states that all rock layers were originally horizontal. The Law of Superposition states that younger strata lie on top of older strata. The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships states that intrusions and faults that cut across rock are necessarily younger than that rock.

What are the basic principles of relative dating define each?

Relative Dating Principles 1: Lower strata are older than those lying on top of them. Principle of Superposition: In an otherwise undisturbed sequence of sedimentary strata, or rock layers, the layers on the bottom are the oldest and layers above them are younger.

How will you determine relative dating?

Relative dating puts geologic events in chronological order without requiring that a specific numerical age be assigned to each event. Second, it is possible to determine the numerical age for fossils or earth materials.

Is the fault older or younger?

A fault is a break in Earths crust. A fault is always younger than the rock it cuts through. The surface where new rock layers meet a much older rock surface beneath them is called an unconformity.