Geologic Time

Physical Geology Chapter 8

Tim Horner, CSUS Geology Department

Dating rocks:
Relative dating:
Puts events in order
Doesnt necessarily give an exact age
Absolute (Numerical) dating:
Used principles of radioactive decay
Assigns a numerical age to a rock
Only works for certain rock types

Figure 8.1

Figure 8.2

Step 1) Rocks are deposited in the ocean

Figure 8.3

Step 2) Sequence of rocks is deposited

(oldest first):
Lutgrad Fm
Birkland Fm
Tarburg Fm
Leet Junction Fm

Figure 8.4

Step 3) Sequence is
intruded, with
contact
metamorphism at
edges of pluton

Figure 8.5

Step 4) Sequence is tilted, top of new surface

is eroded

Figure 8.1

Figure 8.6

Step 5) Area subsided, was covered by

ocean, Larsonton Fm was deposited

Figure 8.8

Step 6) Larsonton Fm was intruded by dike

Figure 8.9

Step 7) Erode material (expose dike)

Figure 8.10

Step 8) Subsidence,
deposit more marine
sediments (Foster
City Fm) above
unconformity

unconformity

Figure 8.11

Step 9) Raise entire sequence

above sea level, begin
downcutting by modern
stream

Figure 8.1

Final product:

Figure 8.14a-d

Formation of
angular
unconformity

Figure 8.14e

Angular unconformity

Figure 8.14f

Angular unconformity

Figure 8.12

Non-conformity

Figure 8.15

Non-conformity

Figure 8.13

Disconformity

Figure 8.16

Lithologic correlation- tracing beds

Figure 8.17

Lithologic correlation- similar rock sequences

(Gondwana Sequence)

Figure 8.18

Correlation by fossils

Table 8.2

Geologic time scale

Figure 8.19

Table 8.3

Commonly used radiogenic

isotopes:

Figure 8.22

Radiogenic dating: parent and daughter

isotopes

Figure 8.21

Figure 8.23

Radiogenic dating brackets

events

Figure 8.24

Geologic time scale, with absolute dates

Figure 8.25

Absolute time scale

Figure 8.20

Numeric (absolute) dating

Uses radiogenic isotopes
Decay rates are known,
constant
3 decay methods:
Alpha decay
Beta decay
Electron capture