Scientists can estimate the ages of rock if they contain certain __________. A. sediments B. carbons C. minerals D. index fossils
Question
Scientists can estimate the ages of rock if they contain certain __________.
A. sediments
B. carbons
C. minerals
D. index fossils
Solution
To answer the question regarding what scientists use to estimate the ages of rocks, let's analyze the options provided.
- Sediments: While sediments can give clues about the environment and conditions during rock formation, they do not directly give specific ages for rocks.
- Carbons: Carbon dating is a method used for dating organic material, not rocks specifically. It is effective for items that were once living, but it doesn't apply broadly to all rocks.
- Minerals: While certain minerals can provide insight into the conditions under which rocks were formed, they are not typically used for dating.
- Index fossils: Index fossils are fossils of organisms that were widespread but existed for a relatively short geological time. These fossils are crucial for dating and correlating the age of rock layers.
Based on this analysis, the best choice is D. index fossils.
Index fossils allow scientists to determine the relative ages of rock layers and are an integral part of the geological time scale, making them essential for estimating the age of the rocks they are found within.
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