When will a fossil be used in finding the absolute age of rocks? (1 point)
O if it existed for a long period of time and in a wide area
O if it existed for a limited period of time and in a wide area
• if it existed for a long period of time and in a small area
• if it existed for a limited period of time and in a small area
• if it existed for a limited period of time and in a small area
To determine the absolute age of rocks, scientists often use fossils as a useful tool. Fossils can provide valuable information about the age of the rocks in which they are found. However, not all fossils are equally useful when it comes to determining absolute age.
In this case, the correct answer is:
• if it existed for a long period of time and in a small area.
Fossils that existed for a long period of time and are found in a small area can be used to establish the absolute age of the rocks. This is because they indicate that the rocks in which they are preserved were formed during that specific time interval when the fossil species existed. By identifying and dating these fossils, scientists can match them with known geological time periods, allowing them to determine the age of the surrounding rocks.
On the other hand, if a fossil existed for a long period of time and is found in a wide area, it may span multiple geological time periods, making it more challenging to pinpoint the age of the rocks in which it is found accurately.
Similarly, fossils that existed for a limited period of time and are found in a wide area can also pose difficulties in determining the absolute age of rocks. This is because the wider distribution of the fossil may make it challenging to associate it with a specific time period.
Therefore, when a fossil is found to have existed for a long period of time and is localized in a small area, it is more likely to be valuable for determining the absolute age of rocks.