Question

A new fossil is found in a rock layer in England. How can index fossils be used to help date the approximate age of the new fossil?

Question 4 options:

Scientists compare the new fossil directly on the fossils on same layer to known fossils to find its age.


Scientist use radioactive dating to get exact age of the new fossil.


Scientist ask other scientists to date the fossils based on known information.


Scientists use the fossils in the same layer and layers before and after the new fossil to compare to known fossils.

Answer 1

index fossils are those fossils which have wide geographical distribution and short life span. so if they are found in a particular age, it means they belong in that age and they cannot be found in formations younger then that. for example if there is an index fossil of Permian age, we can corellate the permian age formations

index fossils have a very short life span which means they only can be found in a particular age.