In which situations is the principle of cross-cutting relationships useful in determining relative age? Select three options.
A fault breaks through sedimentary layers.
The formation of an intrusion in the Earth’s surface.
Igneous rock forms between sedimentary layers.
Sedimentary layers form over millions of years in a lake bottom.
Lava flows form on top of one another from several eruptions over time.
Answers
In which situations is the principle of cross-cutting relationships useful in determining relative age?
- Cross-cutting relationship is a principle of geology that states that "The geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features."
- In other words, The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships states that rock formations that cut across other rocks must be younger than the rocks that they cut across.
Three options among which can be useful in determining relative age are:
1. The formation of an intrusion in the Earth’s surface.
An intrusion is any formation of intrusive igneous rock. Deep-seated intrusions are recognized from the way they have burst through the overlying strata.
2. Igneous rock forms between sedimentary layers.
This can definitely help in determining relative age because sedimentary rocks will be the older rock than igneous rock as igneous rock has formed between sedimentary rocks.
3. Lava flows form on top of one another from several eruptions over time.
The recent lava eruption will be the younger structure among the lava eruptions over the time.
Cross-cutting relationship is helpful in determining the relative ages of the rocks, as the intrusive bodies are younger in age compared to the adjacent country rocks
Explanation:
According to the principle of cross-cutting relationships, the geological features that cuts another rock formation are younger in age, than the formation it cuts. For example, magma intruding from the depth in a region of sedimentary rocks describes that the intruding magma is younger in age than the country rocks.
The three options from the above that are helpful in determining the relative ages are as follows-
- Formation of any magma intruding body or other intrusive bodies on the surface of the earth.
- Formation of igneous rocks between the sedimentary rocks.
- Formation of lava flows that are formed in layers which are typically formed from the eruptions of a volcano over the geological time.
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