Question
Are index fossils used for absolute dating?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Index fossils are primarily used for relative dating rather than absolute dating. They are fossils of organisms that were widespread but existed for a relatively short period of geological time. By identifying and dating these fossils in various rock layers, geologists can establish the relative ages of the rocks and correlate them across different locations.
Absolute dating, on the other hand, involves determining the actual age of a rock or fossil in years, often through methods such as radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes. While index fossils can help in correlating ages of rock layers, they do not provide specific numerical ages on their own.
Absolute dating, on the other hand, involves determining the actual age of a rock or fossil in years, often through methods such as radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes. While index fossils can help in correlating ages of rock layers, they do not provide specific numerical ages on their own.