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Relative vs. Absolute Dating Explained

This document discusses and differentiates between relative dating and absolute dating methods used in geology. Relative dating involves ordering geological events and placing rocks in chronological sequence without ascribing numerical ages. Absolute dating determines the actual numerical age of rocks and events in millions of years using radiometric dating techniques on appropriate rock types. A variety of absolute dating methods are outlined, each suitable for different material and timescale. Relative dating principles are also summarized.

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Gabbie Fuentes
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23K views15 pages

Relative vs. Absolute Dating Explained

This document discusses and differentiates between relative dating and absolute dating methods used in geology. Relative dating involves ordering geological events and placing rocks in chronological sequence without ascribing numerical ages. Absolute dating determines the actual numerical age of rocks and events in millions of years using radiometric dating techniques on appropriate rock types. A variety of absolute dating methods are outlined, each suitable for different material and timescale. Relative dating principles are also summarized.

Uploaded by

Gabbie Fuentes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

RELATIVE AND

ABSOLUTE
DATING
OBJECTIVES:
• Differentiate relative and absolute dating;
• Describe the different methods (relative and
absolute dating) of determining the age of
stratified rocks; and
• Understand and appreciate the importance of the
relative and absolute dating in determining the age
of stratified rocks.
”Telling time geologically”

 Earth’s history concealed in rocks

 Goal of geology: unraveling Earth’s history

 Principle time keeping devices:

Relative dating - putting rocks/events in proper order


Absolute dating - determining event’s actual time
Geologists often need to know the age of material that
they find. They use absolute dating methods,
sometimes called numerical dating, to give rocks an
actual date, or date range, in number of years. This is
different to relative dating, which only puts geological
events in time order.
• Relative dating of
fossils
(chronostratic)
- is a system in which a
fossil is given an age
designation in terms of
epoch, period, or era
which can be compared
to other geologic units of
time as older or younger,
but without the burden of
assigning a specific
number.
- Relative dating is best
explained when covering
the law of superposition
and a geologic time scale
Absolute dating of a
fossil (chronometric)
– numerical ages in millions
of years or some other
measurement. These are
most commonly obtained via
radiometric dating methods
performed on appropriate
rock types
- involves assigning a
specific quantity of age with
a fossil such as saying that an
echinoid, Hardouinia
bassleri, is 83 million years
old.
Half life – the amount of time it take for half a
radioactive substance to breakdown. Radioactive –
a unstable substance that breaks down or decays.

Ex: carbon 14 – 5,700 yrs, Calcium 41 –


130,000,Potassium 40 – 1,300,000yrs, Nitrogen 17 -
7 sec

EX: when a parent uranium 238 decays produces


Subatomic particles energy daughter lead 206
Absolute dating w/ radioactivity
Dating Method Material Dated Age Range Dated

Carbon-14 to Nitrogen Organic remains,


Up to 60,000 years ago
(radiocarbon) archeological artefacts

Tephra, loess, lake


Luminescence Up to 100,000 years ago
sediments

10,000 to 400 million


Fission Track Tephra
years ago

20,000 to 4.5 billion years


Potassium-40 to argon 40 Volcanic rocks
ago

1 million to 4.5 billion


Uranium 238 to lead 206 Volcanic Rocks
years ago
Carbon Dating
Relative Dating: Key principles

Principle of Superposition

Principle of original horizontality

Principle of Original Lateral Continuity

Principle of cross-cutting relationships

Principle of Inclusions

Principle of Unconformities

Principle of Uniformitarianism
END OF THE LESSON

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