An index fossil may be used for identifying
A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2010 - Paper 1
Question 18
An index fossil may be used for identifying
A. the oldest rocks in a series of strata.
B. the age of rocks from the Jurassic period only.
C. the absolute age of a se... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:An index fossil may be used for identifying
A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 18 - 2010 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the purpose of index fossils
96%
114 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Index fossils serve a critical role in geology for dating and correlating the age of strata. They are used to identify specific time periods based on the fossils' presence and distribution.
Step 2
Evaluate each option
99%
104 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Reviewing each option:
A: The oldest rocks in a series of strata are not specifically identified by index fossils, as they focus on specific time intervals, not just the oldest.
B: Index fossils are not restricted to only one period, such as the Jurassic, which makes this option incorrect.
C: Index fossils do not provide absolute age; they help determine relative ages, so this option is also incorrect.
D: This option correctly identifies that index fossils are used to compare sedimentary rocks of the same age from different locations, making it the correct answer.
Step 3
Select the correct answer
96%
101 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Based on the evaluations, the correct answer is D: sedimentary rocks of the same age in different locations.
