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Geologic Time Geologic Time

Geology 211, Physical Geology Copyright, 2004, Ron Parker Geology 211, Physical Geology Copyright, 2004, Ron Parker
March 2, 2004 March 2, 2004
View from Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim Ron Parker, 1991 View from Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim Ron Parker, 1991
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Geologic Time
Discovering the magnitude of the Earths past was
a momentous discovery in the history of humanity.
This discovery forever altered our perception of
ourselves within nature and the universe.
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Geologic Time
1664, James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh,
(Ireland)
Counted generations in the bible.
Determined that the earth had been formed:
In 4004 B.C upon the entrance of the
night preceding the 23
rd
day of October
Acceptance of this short time fostered a belief in
sudden and massive change to explain geologic
complexity.
This idea was known as catastrophism.
Armagh Public Library Armagh Public Library
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Geologic Time
James Hutton
Scottish physician and farmer often called
the Father of Modern Geology
Recognized the slow pulse of geologic change.
He observed
The slow rate of soil loss from his fields
Hadrians Wall had not changed in 1600 years.
Geologic changesrequired a very old Earth.
Presented his Theory of the Earth in 1785.
Of the abyss of time, Hutton wrote:
The result, therefore, of our present
inquiry is that we find no vestige of a
beginning - no prospect of an end
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Geologic Time
Sir Charles Lyell
Scottish lawyer turned geologist
Published Principles of Geology in 3 volumes (1830-1833)
Provided abundant evidence for the Principle of
Uniformitarianism
All past Earth changes can be explained by modern processes
operating over immense spans of time.
Uniformitarianismmay be summarized by the phrase:
The present is the key to the past.
Sir Charles Lyell
Scottish lawyer turned geologist
Published Principles of Geology in 3 volumes (1830-1833)
Provided abundant evidence for the Principle of
Uniformitarianism
All past Earth changes can be explained by modern processes
operating over immense spans of time.
Uniformitarianismmay be summarized by the phrase:
The present is the key to the past.
Rick Miller SDSU Geologic Time Web page
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rhmiller/geologictime/GeologicTime.htm
Rick Miller SDSU Geologic Time Web page
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rhmiller/geologictime/GeologicTime.htm
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Uniformitarianism
The present is the key to the past.
The Earth has been shaped by uniform forces operating the
same way today as they did in the past.
Modern mudcracks, San Pedro River, SE Arizona Ron Parker, 2003 Cambrian mudcracks, Winooski, Vermont Ron Parker, 2002
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Relative Dating Ages
assigned to rocks and events
based upon their proper
sequence of formation.
Absolute Dating Numerical
ages specifying the actual
number of years that have
passed since an event
occurred.
Geologic Time
There are two ways of dating geological materials.
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Relative Absolute
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Principle of Uniformitarianism
Principle of Superposition
Principle of Original Horizontality
Principle of Original Continuity
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
Principle of Inclusions
Principle of Baked contacts
Principle of Uniformitarianism
Principle of Superposition
Principle of Original Horizontality
Principle of Original Continuity
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
Principle of Inclusions
Principle of Baked contacts
Principles of Relative Dating
Ron Parker, 1991
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Superposition
Ron Parker, 1991
In an undeformed sequence of layered rocks
Each bed is older than the one above, and
younger than the one below.
In an undeformed sequence of layered rocks
Each bed is older than the one above, and
younger than the one below.
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Sediment deposits form extensive horizontal sheets.
Flat rock layers have not been disturbed.
Subsequent erosion dissects once continuous layers
Sediment deposits form extensive horizontal sheets.
Flat rock layers have not been disturbed.
Subsequent erosion dissects once continuous layers
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Original Horizontality and Continuity
View from Toroweap Point Ron Parker, 1991
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Younger features cut across
older features.
Faults, dikes, erosion, etc.
Cross-Cutting Relations Cross-Cutting Relations
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The fault is younger than
the strata it cuts across.
The fault is younger than
the strata it cuts across.
An inclusion is a piece of rock enclosed within another.
Igneous xenoliths
Weathering rubble.
The inclusion is older than the material enclosing it.
Principle of Inclusions Principle of Inclusions
Stanley Shale inclusion in Nepheline Syenite, Magnet Cove, Arkansas Ron Parker, 2003

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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Relative dating principles allow geologists to easily unravel
complicated geologic histories.
Relative Dating
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
An unconformity is a gap in the rock record produced by
Erosion and/or
Non-deposition.
Unconformities
An unconformity is
significant; it represents
missing TIME.
There are several types of
unconformity.
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Unconformity types:
Disconformity Strata on either side of the unconformity
are parallel.
Nonconformity Metamorphic or igneous rocks in contact
with sedimentary strata.
Angular unconformity Tilted rocks are overlain by flat-
lying rocks.
Unconformity animation
Relative Dating
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Angular Unconformity Angular Unconformity
Represents a huge gulf in time
Sediments deposited horizontally below
sea-level.
Sediments deformed by orogenesis
Mountains eroded totally away.
Mountain remnants flooded by the sea.
Younger sediments deposited horizontally
on the deformed sediments.
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Angular Unconformity The most easily recognized.
The time-significance of angular unconformities was first
recognized by Hutton at Siccar Point, Scotland.
Relative Dating
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Species evolve, exist for a time and then become extinct.
Rocks are dated by fossil appearance, range and extinction.
Fossil organisms succeed one another in a definite order.
A time period is readily recognized by its fossil content.
Principle of Fossil Succession
Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaur yet discovered, Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois Ron Parker, 2001 W. W. Norton W. W. Norton
Life first appears on Earth ~ 3.8 Ba.
During 90% of Earth history, life
consisted of single-celled organisms.
~ 700 Ma, multicellular life evolved.
~ 540 Ma, hard skeletons evolved
leading to a great increase in the
preservation of fossil remains.
Earliest life was anaerobic.
Oxygen built up by 2 Ba.
This is known as the Cambrian Explosion
Faunal evolution proceeded at a rapid pace
thereafter.
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The first and last appearance of a
specific fossil type is its range.
Ranges are time markers.
Each fossil type has a unique range.
Overlapping faunal ranges provide
distinctive time markers that
permit correlation of strata
Locally
Regionally
Globally
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
In 1793, William Smith was the first to
note that strata in widely separated
regions could be matched.
He correlated rocks all over England
and produced the first geologic map*.
Stratigraphic Correlation
*(His efforts are described in the 2001 National Bestseller The Map That Changed the
World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology by Simon Winchester, Harper
Collins Publisher).
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
This map led to the coal, oil and mining
industries and the development of
highways and railroads.
This map led to the coal, oil and mining
industries and the development of
highways and railroads.
Stratigraphic Correlation
Matching of rocks of similar ages in different regions is known as
stratigraphic correlation.
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Establishes the actual numerical age of a geologic material.
Refines the relative dating scale.
A complex procedure that requires precise measurement.
The oldest rocks have been dated at more than 4 Ba.
Confirms the idea that geologic time is immense.
Radioactivity
Spontaneous changes (decay) in the structure of atomic nuclei
Parent An unstable radioactive isotope
Daughter product Isotopes resulting from the decay of a parent.
Half-life Time required for one-half of the radioactive nuclei in a
sample to decay.
Radioactive Dating
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Atomic number
An elements identifying number
Equal to the number of protons in the atoms nucleus
Mass number
Sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atoms nucleus
Isotope
Variant of the same parent atom.
Differs in the number of neutrons.
Results in a different mass number than the parent atom.
Radioactive Dating
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Radiometric dating
During one half-life, the same amount of decay occurs (50 %).
The actual number of atoms that decay decreases exponentially.
Comparing the ratio of parent to daughter yields the sample age.
Radioactive Dating
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Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004
Radiocarbon (Carbon 14) dating
Half-life of only 5730 years.
Used to date very recent events (limited to <50 ka)

14
C is produced in the upper atmosphere.
Useful tool for archaeologists and geologists who study
very recent Earth history.
Carbon 14 (
14
C) Dating
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The geologic time scale Earths calendar of history
Subdivides geologic history into units.
Originally created using relative dates.
Structure of the geologic time scale
Eon The greatest expanse of time (a billion years).
Era subdivision of an eon
Eras are subdivided into periods.
Periods are subdivided into epochs.
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Names of the eons.
Phanerozoic Visible life The most recent eon,
began about 540 million years ago.
Proterozoic Before life We now know that life
was present during the proterozoic.
Archean - Old
Hadean The oldest eon. Named after Hades (Hell).
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Precambrian
4 billion years prior to the Cambrian period.
Not divided because Precambrian events are
murky, obscured by the haze of the past
First abundant fossil evidence does not appear
until the beginning of the Cambrian (the
Cambrian Explosion).
Precambrian
4 billion years prior to the Cambrian period.
Not divided because Precambrian events are
murky, obscured by the haze of the past
First abundant fossil evidence does not appear
until the beginning of the Cambrian (the
Cambrian Explosion).
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Eras of the Phanerozoic
Cenozoic (recent life)
Mesozoic (middle life)
Paleozoic (ancient life)
Geosciences 211, Physical Geology Ron Parker, 2004 W. W. Norton W. W. Norton
Second Exam
Next Class:
Differential weathering in the Silurian Cedarville Dolomite, Clifton Gorge, Ohio Ron Parker, 2004 Differential weathering in the Silurian Cedarville Dolomite, Clifton Gorge, Ohio Ron Parker, 2004