Applications of Dating Techniques
Write a paragraph summary of the best applications of numerical dating techniques for a tree log buried in a Holocene flood and a Permian felsic volcanic unit. Refer to your textbook reading.
1. For our Week 7 Written Assignment, we will be using the made-up scenario provided above for working with the "best applications of numerical dating techniques for a log buried in a Holocene flood and a Permian felsic volcanic unit." These examples will allow us to practice using the geologic time scale from our textbook on page 324 (Figure 9.25) and work with the dating techniques discussed in our book in Chapter 9. Make sure to notice that the time scale on the right of the figure is a section being blown up of the time scale on the left side of the figure. Also be sure to look at the title of each column - Eon, Epoch, Period, etc. - this will be relevant when answering the questions. All the information you will need for this assignment is in our textbook and lecture material, therefore there is no need for any additional sources.
2. Remember to always label the time scale that you are using when answering these questions below. A time scale label example is thousands of years ago, days old, minutes old, billions of years ago, etc.
3. Geologic Time Scale Practice:
a. What is the age label for the geologic time scale we are using (refer to the far right column)? This is what MYA stands for.
b. The numerical age range of the Mesozoic Era is 251 million years ago to 65.5 million years ago per the geological time scale on page 324 of our textbook. What is the numerical age range of the Cambrian Period?
c. What is the name of the Eon with the numerical age range of 2,500 - 542 million years ago? REMEMBER: the answer is in the EON column - each column is a different type of age category.
d. What is the name of the Era that covers the time age range from 65.5 million years ago to the present?
e. What is the oldest numerical age listed on this time scale? Give the number.
4. Our made-up example states that there is "a log buried in a Holocene flood," which came first - the log or the flood? Essentailly, think of which item had to be present first in order for the other item to ‘bury' the first item.
5. What is the numerical age range of the Holocene Epoch?
6. What is the main element that the tree is made of? This is one element from the Chemical Periodic Table, An example of an element is H (for hydrogen) or Sn (for tin) - now which element is the main one in trees? Check out the periodic table here https://periodic.lanl.gov/index.shtml
7. Now that you know what numerical age range the log is from, and what material the log is made of - take these two pieces of information to decide on one type of numerical dating technique that would work to date the log. REMEMBER: Be specific - don't just say radiometric dating - because there are many types of radiometric dating methods - pick one covered in the book.
8. Give two reasons why you chose the numerical dating technique that you did in question 7 for the log.
9. What is the numerical age range of the Permian Period?
10. What type of rock is a Felsic Volcanic Unit - it is one of the three rock types from the rock cycle we reviewed in week 3? We know that a felsic volcanic rock is more than 65% Silica and includes large amounts of Aluminum, Potassium and Sodium, thus meaning it is highly viscous. REMINDER: the answer is one of the three rocy types in the rock cycle.
11. Now that you know what numerical age range of the Permian Period and what type of rock the Felsic Volcanic Unit is,- take these two pieces of information to decide on one type of numerical dating technique that would work for this rock in this scenario. NOTE: Be specific - just don't day radiometric dating - it is all radiometric dating - the book covers specific methods - pick one of those.
12. Give two reasons why you chose the numerical dating technique that you did in question 11 for the rock.
13. Please provide your APA formatted reference list for the work done in this assignment below, including our textbook and lecture material as needed.
14. Include source intext citations per APA format in each question response above.