[Geology & Weather Reviews]


Relative age is the age of one rock layer, or fossil, in comparison with another. Rock layers close to the earth's surface are younger than those farther from the earth's surface. If several layers of rock are present, the layer closest to the bottom is the oldest. Relative age can be used to estimate the ages of fossils. For example, if the approximate age of one rock layer is known, a nearby rock layer containing similar fossils is about the same age.

 

Use the diagrams below and the information from above to answer the following questions.

1. Which rock layer in Figure 1 is the youngest layer? Which is the oldest?

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