When will a fossil be used in finding the absolute age of rocks?

1 answer

A fossil can be used to determine the absolute age of rocks through a process called biostratigraphy. Biostratigraphy involves comparing the fossil assemblages found in different rock layers to establish their relative ages within a geological time scale. Fossils are useful for dating rocks because they are indicative of specific time periods in which organisms existed. By analyzing the occurrence of certain fossils in the rock layers, scientists can establish the age of those rocks. Additionally, fossils can be used in conjunction with other dating methods, such as radiometric dating, to further refine the absolute age determination of rocks.