1
RELATIVE DATING LAB
Name: Date:
Objective
To identify the sequence of events when viewing a rock outcrop
Materials
• Cross-sections of the rock outcrops for each part (you can print them if it helps you)
• Worksheet opened to record the data as you work through each cross-section
Procedure
• Read through all the steps below and then complete the Purpose
question in the worksheet.
• Determine the sequence of events for each of the cross-sections
and list them in order from oldest to the most recent (youngest)
and put the letters in that order on the worksheet.
• Make sure to save your pdf after you have completed the lab using
the instructions in the class documents in this course.
• Upload your pdf into the assignment upload for this lab.
Purpose (5 pts)
Write a 1 sentence purpose statement for this lab.
Joey
11/17/23
The purpose of this lab is to determine the sequence of events of different terrains.
2
Cross Section I
List the sequence of events from oldest to youngest (most recent) using the letters A–E (no letter
is used twice) on Cross Section I. (4 pts per each blank = 20 pts total)
List the sequence from oldest to youngest below:
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
Cross Section II
List the sequence of events from oldest to youngest (most recent) using
the letters A–G, and folding on Cross Section II. There are 8 lines to file
in with one answer given, none of the letters are used twice. (2 pts per
each blank = 14 pts total)
NOTE: The letters ‘A’ and ‘F’ are referring to faults on the cross-section.
List the sequence from oldest to youngest below:
1. .
2. Folding .
3. .
4. .
5. Erosion .
6. .
7. .
8. .
9. .
c
d
b
d
a
g
b
a
d
f
c
e
3
Cross Section III
List the sequence of these events from oldest to youngest (most recent) depicted in Cross Section
III according to the Word Bank below. No words are used twice. (2 pts per blank = 24 pts total)
Word Bank
Batholith
Layer D
Fault 2
Layer A
Layer E
Erosion
Layer B
Dike
Sill
Layer C
Fault 1
Unconformity
List the sequence from oldest to youngest below:
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. .
9. .
10. .
11. .
12. ..
Observation & Analysis
Please state your answers in 2 3 sentences.-
1. Choose two of the geologic events in Cross Section I and explain how you knew where to
place them relative to the other rock layers. pts) (5
d
a
batholith
dike
b
uncomformity
fault 1
e
c
sill
fault 2
Law of Superstiton
4
2. Explain how you knew where to place the dike (D) in the sequence of events in Cross
Section II. pts) (5
3. Explain how you decided where to place Fault 1 relative to Fault 2 in the sequence of
events in Cross Section III. pts) (5
Conclusion
1. Did you have any difficulty placing the sequence of events in order? Why or why not? (6
pts)
2. Which of the three laws (Law of Superposition, Law of Original Horizontality, and Law of
Cross-Cutting Relationships) was most helpful to you in identifying the sequence of events
in each of the three cross sections? Why? 6 pts)
fault e was younger the d because dike was displaced along the fault
dike was goiung through everything except e and f
yea little bit.
I found that the Law of Cross - Cutting Relationships was the most useful law
because once you found out where the dikes , faults , and etc were in the
sequence so it was easy to find.
5
Application pts) (10
Locate the image near the top of the article entitled More and More Wrong Dates. You do not
have to read the article, but notice where the author has drawn attention to the Cardenas Basalt
layer and the basaltic lava flows of the Uinkerat Plateau with red arrows. This image depicts a
cross section of the Grand Canyon. Many conventional scientists rely on radiometric dating as
evidence that the rocks on Earth are millions of years old. Some Young-Earth Creation scientists
did a test on the radiometric dates for the Cardenas Basalts positioned way down deep in the
Grand Canyon and the basaltic lava flows on top. The creationists were convinced that the tests
conventional scientists use flawed. As it turned out, one of the tests incorrectly determined are
that the basaltic lava flows on top were older in age than the Cardenas basalts on the bottom! If
these dates were accurate, which relative dating law would be broken in this situation?
The relative dating law that would be broken in this situation is the Law of
Superposition, which states that in a sequence of undisturbed layers of rock, the
oldest layers will be at the bottom and the youngest layers will be at the top.
