Formation of Rock Layers - Week 5

FORMATION OF
ROCK LAYERS
• The idea behind the concept that the Earth is billions of years old originated in the work of James
Hutton.
• Hutton concluded that there are forces that changes the landscape of the Earth in the past. This
conclusion is based on his observation in the geological processes that were taking place in his farm.
His Principle of Uniformitarianism states that the current geologic processes, such as volcanism,
erosion, and weathering are the same processes that were at work in the past. This idea was refined by
other geologists that although the process of the past and the present are the same, the rates of this
process may vary over time. The Earth’s history was studied using the different records of past events
preserved in rocks. The layers of rocks are like the pages in our history books.
HOW ARE ROCK LAYERS FORMED?
• Stratified rocks, also known as derivatives rock, maybe fragmental or crystalline. These
rocks are product of sedimentary processes. These are made of visible layers of sediments.
The formation on rock layers depend on its stratigraphy and stratification.
STRATIGRAPHIC LAWS
• Stratigraphic laws are basic principles that all geologists use in

decoding or deciphering the spatial and temporal relationships of rock
layers. These includes the following: Original Horizontality, Lateral
Continuity, Superposition, Cross Cutting, Law of Inclusions and the
Law of Faunal Succession.
PART 2/ LESSON 2:
CORRELATION OF
ROCK LAYERS
• Have you experienced playing or fitting cut out patterns or puzzle? One of the
evidences used by geologist in tracing the history of the Earth was with the
identifications and the correlations of rock layers. Rock layers were subjected to
alteration due to different geologic processes that act or apply on it. Such forces
could result to tilting, uplifting, compression, and subductions of rock layers. These
rock layers have the tendency to be separated from each other. One way of how
these rock layers be identified is with the utilization of correlation.
• Why do geologists need to correlate rock layers? The history of earth is preserved in its
rock layers. Unfortunately, no single location on earth has a continuous set of layers
due to erosion or ceased deposition. Instead, geologists study rock sequences at many
different places around the world, measure the depth of the layers, record what kind of
rock is in each layer, and see if there are any fossils present. Geologists represent the
layers of rock by drawing a picture of the sequence – this is called a stratigraphic
column.
• Geologists need to correlate rocks from one place to another to get more complete
record of Earth’s history over time. They try to determine the relative age of widely
separated strata or rock layers. They used correlation trying to fit together sedimentary
strata in different places just like a cut out puzzle.
HOW DO GEOLOGISTS CORRELATE ROCK
LAYERS?
• The process of showing that rocks or geologic events occurring at different
locations are of the same age is called correlation.
• Geologists have developed a system for correlating rocks by looking for

similarities in composition and rock layer sequences at different locations.
• The geological technique of correlation provides information that have taken in

Earth’s history at various time that occurred.
METHODS IN CORRELATING ROCK LAYERS
1. Rock types and its characteristics

 color, texture, hardness, composition or its mineral content
the harder and more densely packed the particls are, the older the rock
and the deeper the layer it came from.
2. Index fossil
also known as guide fossils or indicator fossils, are fossils used to define
and identify geologic periods (or faunal stages)
3. Bed rock
a deposit of solid rock that is typically buried beneath soil and other broken or
unconsolidated material (regolith).
made up of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock, and it often serves as the

parent material for regolith and soil.
• After matching correlated rock layers, we can determine the relative age of each
layer according to the law of superposition.
• Limestone in location A is the oldest and limestone in location C is the youngest

rock layer. While those rock layers having the same composition, textures, and fossil
content were considered as rock layers with the same age.
• In matching up rock layers, superposition and cross-cutting are helpful.
• When rocks are touching one another, the lateral continuity rock layers aid to match
up with the layers that are nearby. Geologists then match, or correlate, the different
shorter sequences to create a geological column that spans further back into earth’s
past.
• Correlations involve matching a particular rock unit in one exposure with its
counterpart at a different locality.
• By correlating various rock vulnerability separated by great distances, geologic maps

can be constructed and the original geographical extent of the rocks can be estimated.
TYPES OF CORRELATION
A. Physical Correlation
 is accomplished by using number of criteria such as color, texture, and types of minerals
contained within a stratum which make it possible for geologists to classify a particular
stratum specifically.
TYPES OF CORRELATION
B. Fossil Correlation
is a principle that geologists use to determine the age of rock.
It uses fossil with unique characteristics, such as geologically short lifespan and easily
identifiable features and use this information to estimate the age of a rock layer in other
areas that contain the same type of fossil or group of fossils.
• There are fossils which are used to date the layers of rock that they are found in.
Fossils that can be used in this way are called index fossils, and rock layers with
the same index fossils in them can be correlated.
CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED IN IDENTIFYING
INDEX FOSSILS
1. The fossilized organism must be easily recognizable and it must be easy to identify because of
its uniqueness.
2. Fossils must be geographically widespread, or found over large areas so that it can be used to
match rock layers separated by huge distances.
3. Fossils must have lived for only a short time, so that it appears in only horizontal layer of
sedimentary rocks.
ASSESSMENT:
• Go to your google classroom and kindly answer the posted assessment

about Formation of Rock layers.

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FORMATION OF

• Stratigraphic laws are basic principles that all geologists use in

• Geologists have developed a system for correlating rocks by looking for

• The geological technique of correlation provides information that have taken in

1. Rock types and its characteristics

made up of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock, and it often serves as the

• Limestone in location A is the oldest and limestone in location C is the youngest

• By correlating various rock vulnerability separated by great distances, geologic maps

• Go to your google classroom and kindly answer the posted assessment

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