When you find an animal fossil, the first thing you need to do is determine its age. This can be done by examining the surrounding rock and soil, as well as by studying the fossil itself. There are several methods for dating fossils, but the most common ones are radiometric dating and relative dating.
Radiometric dating is based on the assumption that radioactive isotopes within a rock have constant decay rates. Scientists measure the amount of certain radioactive elements in a sample to determine how long ago the sample was solid rock.
Relative dating simply means examining hierarchy, which is based on sedimentary layering and fossil succession.
Relative Dating
Relative dating is best done when finding an animal fossil in a dig site. By studying the layering of rock and dirt, researchers can see what came before and after another layer.
In most cases, older fossils are found in lower layers while younger ones are generally found in higher layers. It’s important to note that just because a fossil is in a high layer doesn’t mean it’s younger than a fossil in a lower layer; the two fossils could be the same age.
Fossil Succession
Fossil succession is another way to determine a fossil’s relative age. This method is based on the idea that each species of animal evolves over time. As new species evolve, they slowly replace older ones.
By studying the fossils in a given area, researchers can see a pattern of which species evolved first and which ones replaced them. This information can then be used to determine the fossil’s relative age.
Radiometric Dating
Radiometric dating is a more precise way of determining a fossil’s age. It is based on the idea that radioactive isotopes within a rock have constant decay rates. Scientists measure the amount of certain radioactive elements in a sample to determine how long ago the sample was solid rock.
An entire science has developed around radiometric dating and its many applications. Radiometric dating can help researchers tell whether fossils found at one site are older than those found at another site or whether different fossils found in the same location are from the same time period.
Radiometric dating can be used on both organic and inorganic materials. For example, scientists can measure carbon-14 levels and potassium-40 levels to determine when a plant or animal died and how long ago it lived.
Radiometric dating can also be done on fossils. For example, researchers could measure fluorine-19 levels within a tooth to find out how long ago the tooth was fossilized.
Relative vs Radiometric Dating
Relative and radiometric dating are two ways of determining a fossil’s age. Relative dating is best done by looking at layers of rock and sediment, as well as studying fossil succession.
This will give you a good idea of what came before and after the rock layer in which your fossil was found. However, this method is not precise because it only takes into account relative age; that is, which fossils are older or younger than others.
Radiometric dating is more precise because it takes into account how many years ago an object was formed. While radiometric dating can be used on both organic and inorganic materials, the process is especially effective at determining the age of rocks and fossils that were once living things.
Geologists throughout history have used relative dating to figure out the age of rocks. However, scientists primarily use it today to determine the age of fossils. By studying the layers of rock and dirt, researchers can see what came before and after another layer. In most cases, older fossils are found in lower layers while younger ones are generally found in higher layers.
It’s important to note that just because a fossil is in a high layer doesn’t mean it’s younger than a fossil in a lower layer; the two fossils could be the same age.
In conclusion, relative dating is a good way to understand the overall sequence of an area’s rock layers. From there, researchers can take their knowledge and move on to more precise methods such as radiometric dating which allows for a greater understanding of the history behind a certain fossil.