Download Relative Dating Rules

Relative Dating
stating which rock layer is
older or younger based on
its position in the
stratigraphic column
Principle of
Uniformitarianism
processes that
operate today
operated in the
past
"The
present is
the key to
the past"
Law of
Superposition
rocks on the
bottom are
the oldest
Principle of
Cross-cutting
Relationships
a fault or
intrusion is
younger than
what it cuts
across
Principle of
Original
Horizontality
sediment is
deposited in
flat horizontal
layers
Principle of
Inclusions
if a rock body
(Rock B)
contained
fragments of
another rock
body (Rock A) it
must be younger
than the
fragments