quote:
quote:
Is it a coincidence that the "oldest" rocks are those found at deeper levels?
Deeper levels of what?
I think this is in reference to material from message 21 of this topic:
quote:
Fourteen rock strata were aged with potassium-argon method, yielding dates from 1.3 - 64.8 million years old (each successively lower strata measured "older" than the ones above it).
I know Edge knows this (introductory geology) material, but for others -
It is basic stratigraphic principle that bedded rocks are progressivly older, as you go deeper in the earth. This is referred to as the principle of superposition. In other words, the lower rock had to be there already, for the next layer to be deposited on top of it.
Of course, this only holds up if later deformation of the rocks has not modified the relationships. Folding and/or faulting can result in older rocks being physically found above younger rocks. But in that case, the evidence of the folding and/or faulting is also present.
I once again cite my favorite introductory geology page:
Radiometric Dating and the Geological Time
ScaleAnd more specificly:
Radiometric Dating and the Geological Time
Scale
Moose
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Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U
Evolution - Changes in the environment, caused by the interactions of the components of the environment.
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