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Geologic Time GG101 Lecture 14: Geologic Time

Geology is the Time-history is preserved by rock layers Science GG101 Lecture 14: Geologic Time of Time

Geologic Time: 4.5 Billion years of Earth History

How was Geologic Time deciphered?

Early estimates of Earths age were based on religion

Example: In the mid-1600s, Archbishop James Ussher determined that the Earth was created on:

nightfall preceding 23 October 4004 BC This date was included in some editions of the bible for hundreds of years.

Beginning in the 1700s, scientists used various methods to estimate Earths age
1780s James Hutton: millions of years based on sedimentation rates father of geologic time we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end 1800s: 100s of milllion yrs based on rates of: salt accumulation in ocean evolutionary change of fossils 1860s Lord Kelvin: 20 400 Million years, based on rock cooling rates (did not account for heat sources) 1900s: Radiometric dating: 4.5 Billion Years

Two components of Geologic Time 1. Relative Dating: Determine the order of geologic events 2. Absolute Dating: Assign ages to each different event

Relative Dating allows us to order five Fundamental Geologic Events

1. Deposition 2. Erosion 3. Intrusion Rock strata are formed by deposition of 4. Faulting sediments in sedimentary environments 5. Rock Deformation

Relative Dating allows us to order five Fundamental Geologic Events

1. Deposition Rocks that are exposed to air or water 2. Erosion are eroded. This erosion produces gaps 3. Intrusion in the geologic record called unconformitites. 4. Faulting 5. Rock Deformation

Relative Dating allows us to order five Fundamental Geologic Events

An intrusion cuts across younger rocks 1. Deposition 2. Erosion 3. Intrusion 4. Faulting 5. Rock Deformation

Relative Dating allows us to order five Fundamental Geologic Events

1. Deposition 2. Erosion 3. Intrusion 4. Faulting 5. Rock Deformation

A fault cuts across younger rock. Faulting occurs in individual rocks and on the scale of the tectonic plates.

Relative Dating allows us to order five Fundamental Geologic Events

1. Deposition 2. Erosion Deformation may tilt, fold, uplift and even 3. Intrusion invert existing rock layers. 4. Faulting Deformation may expose rocks to erosion. 5. Rock Deformation

Relative dating of Grand Canyon rock layers Can you determine the order of events that formed these layers? To do this, geologists use Seven Stratigraphic Principles

Seven Stratigraphic Principles are used for Relative Dating

1. Principle of Superposition: Younger layers are deposited above older layers.

2. Principle of Original Horizontality: Layers are deposited horizontally.

Seven Stratigraphic Principles are used for Relative Dating

3. Principle of Original Lateral Continuity: Sedimentary beds were deposited in unbroken layers.

4. Principle of CrossCutting Relationships: Geologic features that cut pre-existing rocks are younger that they cut.

Seven Stratigraphic Principles are used for Relative Dating

5. Principle of Inclusions: A piece of rock that is incorporated into another rock layer is older that the rock layer.

6. Principle of Unconformities: An unconformity represents the passage of an unknown amount of time.

Seven Stratigraphic Principles are used for Relative Dating

7. Principle of Fossil Succession: Fossils record changes to animals and plants that occurred through time (because of evolution)

Relative Dating Determines the Order of Geologic Events

The First Geologic Map (of Britain, 1815) Made by William Smith (canal engineer) How Smith made his map:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4Tn8rFt_E

William Strata Smith

Compare Smiths Map to the Modern Geologic Map of Britain

Geologics use Radiometric Dating to estimate the Absolute Age of Geologic Samples

Some types of atoms undergo Radioactive Decay into another type of atom.

The number of protons (+) gives the atomic number.


The number of neutrons and protons gives the mass number

Radioactive decay involves a spontaneous change in Atomic Number.

Carbon has an atomic number of 6

Mass number

12 13 14 Its mass number is between 12 and 14, depending the number of neutrons. These are the 3 isotopes of Carbon.

Carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay

Geologics use Radiometric Dating to estimate the Absolute Age of Geologic Samples

Radioactive Decay occurs at a constant rate.

Three types: Alpha Decay Beta Decay Electron Capture

The rate of Radioactive Decay is measured by Half-life.

One half-life is the time for one half of the parent isotope to decay into daughter isotope.

The rate of Radioactive Decay is measured by Half-life.

One half-life is the time for one half of the Measure the ratio of Parent to Daughter parent isotope This tells you the number of half-lives to decay into daughter isotope.

Absolute dating of Grand Canyon rock layers

1:10 to 2:00 http://science.howstuffworks.com/29145-100-greatest-discoveries-radiometric-dating-video.htm

Geologists select an appropriate radioisotope when dating a rock sample

Example: U-235 into Pb-207 (half-life of 0.7 Billion Years)


U-235 atoms 2000 1000 500 Pb-207 atoms 2000 3000 3500 Half-lives 1 2 3 Age 0.7 Gyr 1.4 Gyr 2.1 Gyr

Uranium-238 decay-Chain Useful for dating the Earths Age

Alpha Decay of Radon (Rn-222) can cause lung cancer

Accurate dating requires understanding sources of uncertainty.


What is the relationship between the sample and the event that sets its radioactive age? Which radioisotope system is most appropriate for this sample? (consider its age and the type of material) Open System Behavior: Metamorphic conditions Groundwater Are the quantities parent and daughter material preserved? (closed system)

Carbon-14 is useful for dating archeological samples

Radiocarbon-dating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG-G7nBYwR8 (until 7:00)

The oldest map showing North America. 1434 A.D. plus or minus 11 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pscAavYnYdg

By God's will, after a long voyage from the island of Greenland to the south toward the most distant remaining parts of the western ocean sea, sailing southward amidst the ice, the companions Bjarni and Leif Eiriksson discovered a new land, extremely fertile and even having vines, ... which island they named Vinland.

Measuring Earths Age using Radiometric Dating

Lead isotopes abundances in Earth rocks compared to abundances in meteorites: 4.6 Billion Years

Measuring Earths Age using Radiometric Dating


Oldest Mineral found on Earth (from sedimentary rocks in Australia): 4.4 Billion Years

Measuring Earths Age using Radiometric Dating


Oldest Rocks found on Earth (from Hudson Bay in Canada): 4.28 Billion Years

Meteorite Rocks: Most formed 4.4 to 4.7 Billion Years Ago

Measuring Earths Age using Radiometric Dating

Moon Rocks: Most formed 4.4 to 4.7 Billion Years Ago

Measuring Earths Age using Radiometric Dating

The consistency of these different dates tell us that the Earth is about 4.5 Billion years old.

Homework 13 on WileyPlus (lecture 13, earthquakes) Due Oct 24 (Thursday)


Homework 14 on WileyPlus (lecture 14, geologic time) Due Oct 29 (Tuesday) Remember: Mid-term 2 next week (October 31)

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