Question

According to the concept of superposition, _____.

A) Younger sedimentary rocks can be found scattered between layers of older ones
B) Older sedimentary rocks are usually found below younger ones
C) Older sedimentary rocks are usually found above younger ones
D) The age of rocks is only relative to the order it is laid down in and cannot be determined

Answer 1

According to the concept of superposition, older sedimentary rocks are usually found below younger ones, which helps to establish the relative ages of rock layers and the fossils or artifacts contained within them.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the concept of superposition, older sedimentary rocks are usually found below younger ones. This principle is part of the foundational concepts in geology that help scientists understand the relative ages of rock layers. The concept of superposition states that in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are on the bottom, and the layers get progressively younger as one moves to the top. This applies not just to the rocks, but also to the fossils and artifacts contained within those layers. Consequently, objects found in lower strata are considered older than those in higher strata. This is one of the principles used by geologists and archaeologists to date and correlate the ages of rock formations and the archaeological finds within them.