Final answer:
Index fossils are organisms used to determine the relative ages of rock layers and correlate layers in different locations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Index fossils are organisms that lived on Earth for short periods of time but were widespread geographically. These fossils are used to determine the relative ages of rock layers and to correlate the layers in different locations.
For example, if an index fossil is found in a particular layer of rock in one location, and the same index fossil is found in a layer of rock in another location, it can be inferred that the two layers of rock are of similar age.
Index fossils are important tools for paleontologists and geologists in dating and correlating rock layers during the process of studying Earth's history.
Learn more about Index fossils and their use in dating and correlating rock layers