Final answer:
The principles of sedimentary rock formation and fossilization involve the law of superposition, principle of original horizontality, and principle of lateral continuity. These principles help geologists understand the chronological order of rock layers and reconstruct past environments. Fossils within these layers assist in correlating and dating sedimentary rocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Principles of Sedimentary Rock Formation and Fossilization
The question concerns the principles that explain how sedimentary rocks and fossils are formed. One of the key principles is the law of superposition, which tells us that in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest at the top.
Another important principle is the principle of original horizontality, which indicates that sediments are initially deposited in horizontal layers.
This implies that any tilting must have occurred after the deposition of these layers. The principle of lateral continuity suggests that layers of sedimentary rock are continuous and that interruptions, such as river canyons, occurred after the rocks were formed.
Furthermore, the organic material, including plant and animal remains, may be buried by these sediments and eventually turn into fossils within the sedimentary layers.
Through the lithostratigraphy sub-discipline, geologists can correlate rock layers and interpret the environment in which they formed based on their type and depositional environment, which helps to understand the history of the Earth's surface.
Biological activity such as bioturbation can disturb sediment layers and create trace fossils, leaving behind evidence of the organisms' existence and habits. The presence of specific fossil types can also assist in correlating sediment layers across different locations and deducing their relative ages.