click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Geo History
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Eon | The largest unit of geologic time, lasting billions of years. |
| Era | A unit of geologic time that lasts hundreds of millions of years and is a subdivision of an eon. |
| Epoch | A unit of geologic time that is a subdivision of a period; usually 13-35 million years long. |
| Law of Superposition | A principle in geology that states that the oldest rock layers are at the bottom of a sequence, and the youngest rock layers are at the top. |
| Geologic Time Scale | A record of the major events and diversity of life forms present in Earth's history. |
| Periods | A division of geologic time that is a subdivision of an era. |
| Relative Dating | The process of determining if one rock or geologic event is older or younger than another, without knowing their specific ages. |
| Absolute Dating | A method used to determine the actual age of a rock, fossil, or geologic event in years, often by using the presence of radioactive minerals. |
| Fossils | The preserved remains or traces of a living organism from the distant past. |
| Index Fossils | A widespread fossil of a plant or animal that lived for a short time and can be used to date the rock layer it's found in. |
| Examples of Index Fossils | Trilobite and Ammonite |