1

Lab 6- Geologic Time & Structures

PART 1 – Geologic Time

Objectives
• Understand relative, correlative, and absolute dating
• Calculate radiometric age of rocks
• Understanding the advantages and limits of radiometric dating
• Put events in sequence based on geologic cross sections

Introduction
An important aspect of geology is our effort to understand the history of the earth. We want to know when
the earth was formed, when plate tectonics started working, when the first life forms began to show up,
how the environment at the earth’s surface has changed through time, what causes all the change, and
many other things. Sedimentary rocks and sequences of sedimentary rocks go a long way toward
helping us answer many of these questions, because they form completely at the earth ’surface and
record many things about the earth’s surface environment at the time they formed. Even igneous and
metamorphic rocks play a role in deciphering what has happened on the planet and when.

Relative Dating
Relative dating allows us to put rock layers in order of when they were deposited based on their relation
to other rock layers nearby; expressed as older or younger. For example, Professor Rath is older than her
sister Christy. This is a relative age.

To do this, we will use several principals/laws developed by Nicholas Steno during the 1600’s.
1. Law of Original Horizontality – All sedimentary rocks, lava and pyroclastic flows and ash layers were
deposited in horizontal beds.
2. Law of Lateral Continuity – Sedimentary rocks, at the time of deposition, must continue laterally in all
directions until they thin out by non-deposition or abut the edge of the original basin.
3. Law of Superposition – In a sequence of sedimentary rocks or lava flows, the oldest rocks are on the
bottom and youngest are at the top.
4. Law of Inclusions (Included Fragments) – A piece of rock (e.g., granite) that is included as a clast in a
sedimentary rock (e.g., breccia) shows that the granite is older than the breccia.
5. Law of Cross-cutting – Any geologic event (e.g., fault, fold or volcanic dike) that cuts across another
rock must be younger than the rock body it cuts across.
6. Unconformities – A gap in the geologic record signifying either a period of erosion or non-deposition.
Erosion may be produced by either uplift of rocks and/or falling sea level (lower base level). There are
three main types of unconformities:
• Disconformity – Gap between parallel layers of sedimentary rock.
• Angular unconformity – Gap between nonparallel layers of sedimentary rock.
• Nonconformity – Gap between layers of sedimentary rocks and underlying igneous or
metamorphic rock.

Correlative Dating
Correlative dating involves matching up rocks found in different locations by using fossils or unique time-
dependent materials that have a measurable age (ex. volcanic ash). There are two main steps involved:
1) determine the relative ages of those rock units exposed and 2) establish ages of the local rocks. Jimmy
and his friend Mike are both in the 10th grade; because Jimmy is 15, it is a reasonable deduction that
 2

Mike is also about 15 years old. This is a correlative age: both Jimmy and Mike have the shared
characteristic of being in the 10th grade.

Absolute (Radioactive) Dating

All of these dating methods together have helped
scientists to create the geologic timescale. The 4.6
billion years of Earth’s history have been divided into
eras, periods, and epochs based on the rocks and
fossils. The timescale is shown to the right. The
timescale begins at 4.6 bya (billion years ago), which is
the equivalent of 4600 mya (millions of years ago aka
ma).

Part 1. Relative Dating

1. Using the diagram below, arrange the layers from oldest to youngest using the letters provided.
 3

2.

3. Using the diagram below, arrange the layers from oldest to youngest using the letters provided.
 4

One of the best locations to practice putting geologic history into action is the Grand Canyon. Here the

Colorado River has cut into layers of rock, exposing them in order. Let’s practice!

4. Geologic time can be broken down and grouped into eons, eras, and periods. Eons are the largest
division, followed by eras, and periods are the smallest division. What are the four major EONS of the
geologic timescale and what time spans do they represent? List them below and write down their
respective time intervals.

5. Of eons, eras, and periods, which are represented (e.g., Cambrian, Devonian, etc.) on the geologic
timescale next to the Grand Canyon succession shown above?

6. What is the oldest body of rock in the Grand Canyon?

7. What is the oldest sedimentary layer in the Grand Canyon?

 5

8. What principles did you use to figure this out?

9. What is the youngest Precambrian formation in the Grand Canyon?

10. What is the oldest Paleozoic formation exposed in the Grand Canyon?

11. What is the name and lithology (rock type) of the youngest rock formation?

12. What formation(s) comprise the Cambrian rocks?

13. Examine which geologic time intervals are represented at the Grand Canyon. Are there any time
periods missing between the Cambrian and the Permian? What are they?

14. All of Earth’s history must be recorded by rocks and rock layers. There is no other record. Why might it
be that certain time periods and their respective rocks are missing from the Grand Canyon? What
happened to them?

Part 2. Fossils and Correlation

Before we identify fossils, let’s practice with the principle of fossil succession and correlation of rock
layers. Throughout earth history, organisms have evolved and succeeded each other in a definite and
determinable order, a concept known as the principle of fossil succession. By knowing what fossils are
contained within a rock, you can determine the age of the rock, or at least an age range. Once you have
determined the age of different rock units, you can correlate different rocks together based on age, and
then begin to piece together a detailed history of the area.
 6

Figure 1. An example of correlation using fossils. (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company and Brent
Zaprowski, 2008)

Figure 2. Age ranges for fossils (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company and Brent Zaprowski, 2008)

15. Using the age ranges in Figure 2 (above), determine the age of the rocks below. (A name for the
geologic time period is great!)

Rock A: ________________ Rock B: __________________ Rock C: __________________

16. Two exposures (called outcrops) of rock can be seen along the highway as shown below in Figure 3.
You want to know if the rocks are the same age or not, but the outcrops have different types of rock in
them. Using the fossils shown in these rocks and the age ranges in Figure 2, determine if any of the
rocks in the two outcrops are of the same age or not. Use an arrow to indicate which ones are the
same.
 7

Figure 3. Correlating two outcrops (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company and Brent Zaprowski, 2008)

Part 3. Radioactive Dating (Also known as absolute or numeric dating)

This is a measured age expressed as a number. Brenna is 26 years old and Christy is 25 years old. This
is a process measured in a lab based on isotopes that are present in the rocks and record the timing of
which they formed. The most common isotopes are listed in the table below; they decay at known rates.
Their accepted half-lives are also presented in the table below. This happens naturally and is not affected
by temperature, pressure, or chemical change. Radioactive decay is random, but predictable. This means
you cannot predict exactly when any given atom will decay, but you can determine by percentage when
billions or trillions of atoms will. This allows scientists to date objects with a high rate of accuracy.

But how can we get an age from this?!?!

Age = # of half-lives elapsed x the measured half live

Example: You have measured 25% Ur-235 (parent) and 75% of Pb-207 (daughter). This corresponds to
2 half-lives. The half-life for these isotopes is 704 million years.
Age = 2 x 740 million years = this rock is 1,480 million years old. (or 1.48 billion years old)
 8

17. What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope? (give a definition)

18. One way to determine the age of a sample is to use the number of half-lives that have elapsed.
Complete the table below to help you answer the next questions. (I have started the table for you.)

# of half-lives Fraction of parent Percent of parent Percent of daughter

remaining remaining formed from parent

0 1/1 100% 0%

1 1/2 50%

4
 9

19. Using the tables above and below, and the information given, determine the age of the sample by
multiplying the number of half-lives elapsed by the half-life (column 3 of the table below).
Be sure to show your calculations to earn credit.

a. Sample A has 25% 238U and 75% 206Pb. Find the age of sample A.

b. Sample B has 1/8 of the original amount of 40K. Find the age of sample B.

c. Sample C has 93.75% 14N. Find the age of sample C.

Parent Daughter Half-life

Carbon-14 (14C) Nitrogen-14 (14N) 5730 years

Potassium-40 (40K) Argon-40 (40Ar) 1.3 billion years

Rubidium-87 (87Rb) Strontium-87 (87Sr) 47 billion years

Thorium-232 (232Th) Lead-208 (208Pb) 14.1 billion years

Uranium-238 (238U) Lead-206 (206Pb) 4.5 billion years

 10

PART 2 – Geologic Structures

Geologic Structures - Reading

Geologic Forces

Geologic forces that are exerted on the earth’s surface are referred to as stress and are mostly related
to tectonic forces and the weight of overlying rocks. Strain is the physical change, or deformation, in the
rock that remains after a rock has been stressed. We can see strain in rocks. There are three main types
of geologic forces: compression, extension and shear (the forces were related to types of plate
boundaries last week).

In some cases when stress is applied to a rock, the strain produced is elastic (Figure 1a). This means that
the rock will return to its original shape after the stress is removed (rubber bands react this way to
extension, or when we pull on them). When rocks are permanently changed or deformed from stress,
the strain can be one of two types: plastic or brittle (Figures 1 b and c).

a. plastic and brittle deformation or strain

Figure 1. Elastic, b. (rupture refers to rocks breaking and brittle
c.
deformation). The 1 position in the three figures is the rock shape before stress is applied. The 2 position
represents the change to the rock while the force is applied. The 3 position in the figures represents the
resultant change to the rock (strain) when the force is removed.

Brittle deformation occurs when the strength of a rock is exceeded, and rocks break along fractures or
faults (represented by the orange X on Figure 2). Earthquakes occurring in the lithosphere on faults are
an example of brittle deformation. Plastic deformation occurs when rocks usually exist under high
enough temperature and pressure conditions, that rocks bend when forces are applied. It also must be
mentioned that rocks have different strengths. Both brittle and plastic strain are not reversable and
there will be visible evidence retained in the rocks for us to see (strain).

Figure 2. Stress (of some type) is

increasing upward on the x-axis of the
figure. The type of strain is labeled on the
figure; elastic region refers to rocks that
return to their original shape after the
stress is removed (the blue part of the graph
line). With increasing pressure, the rock
undergoes plastic (green line) or brittle
deformation (X labeled in orange
“fracture”).
 11

Interpreting earth’s structures correctly is critical to many disciplines within geology. The minerals
industry (e.g., oil, mining) requires geologists make accurate interpretations for exploration and
development of resources. Recognition and understanding of earth’s structures is also imperative in the
field of engineering geology, for example when determining safe building sites for dams and homes
(e.g., preferably not on a fault!)

Describing the orientation of rocks: strike & dip

Before we begin looking at different types of geologic structures, let us look at how geology is portrayed
on figures. Figure 3 shows what is known as a block diagram. The top of the block is the view looking
down on the Earth’s surface referred to as map view, and the side view on blocks is known as a cross-
sectional view. Contacts are the edges of adjoining rock layers.

Figure 3. An example
block diagram.

Geologists can take measurements in the field using a compass (Figure 4) of any planar rock feature,
e.g., a rock layer, and this information can be placed on block diagrams and maps. The two
measurements of the planar features that we will be interested in understanding are strike and dip.
Strike is the compass direction a rock layer makes with the earth’s surface measured relative to north.
Dip is the inclination of a geologic structure (e.g., a rock layer) from the horizontal.

Figure 4. Compass being used to

measure the dip of a rock
layer.

Sediment is usually deposited in flat, horizontal layers and there is no inclination to the layers; a strike
direction cannot be described relative to north. However, a horizontal rock layer can become tilted or
 12

inclined if forces are applied to it. Using a compass, the amount of dip can be determined by measuring
the angle the layer is inclined from the horizontal, and the direction the inclined layer can be
determined (relative to north) and the amount the layer is tilted can also be measured using a special
compass. Figure 5 shows layers of rock that are striking north and dipping 20°.

When describing dip, you must include the direction the rocks are inclined (either “west” or “east” of
north). For example, in Figure 5 the layers strike north, and they dip 20° to the left of north, or west.
This is written N 20 W.

Figure 5. Block diagram showing the

strike and dip of inclined layers. The
N layers are dipping at a 20° angle from
the horizontal surface (shaded blue
in the figure, like water lapping on
tilted coastal rocks). The rock layers
are striking north.
Note: the arrow above the diagram
denotes the direction of north.

Another detail relating to strike and dip is that strike is always perpendicular to the direction of dip. The
symbol representing this information in map view (top of the block in Figure 5) shows a long line (the
strike) perpendicular to a short line with 20 written next to the short line (the dip). The dip amount will
be noted next to the dip line on map views.

Figure 6 (A) is an example of a symbol you might see on a map representing strike and dip (the symbol is
located to the right of the north directional figure). The dip angle and direction are noted by the small
line with 45 labeled on Figure 6(A); 45° is the dip angle. To determine the strike angle, measure the
angle between north direction and the strike line; an example is shown on Figure 6 (B) where the red
line superimposed on the north directional figure represents the strike line. The strike angle is
measured to about 40° east of north. The strike and dip of the map symbol is written N 40 E, 45 SE.

40

(A) (B)

Figure 6. (A) shows a north orientation to the left of a strike and dip symbol. The red arrow on (B) shows
how the angle of strike can be measured with a protractor. (Note the dip line points to the southeast in the
amount of 45°).
 13

Folds

Rock layers that have been bent are referred to as folds. When rocks undergo plastic deformation,
generally two types of fold shapes result, anticlines and synclines. In an anticline, the rock layers are
arched upwards. Synclines have layers that bow downward. In many places it is common to find a series
of anticlines and synclines. Figure 7 shows a series of these folds in cross-section view (e.g. a side-view).

Figure 7. Side view (or cross-section) of a series of anticlines and synclines. Note: the axial plane is drawn and
labeled in solid lines through the anticline fold axes. The dashed lines represent the axial planes of the
symmetrical and asymmetrical synclines (not labeled on the overturned syncline).

Next, we look at some of the nomenclature involved when discussing folds. The axial plane of a fold is
defined as an imaginary plane that goes through the location of the maximum flexure of each folded
rock layer. When the axial plane is vertical and the limbs (or sides) of the fold dip away from one
another and the axial plane, the fold is described as a symmetrical fold (e.g. a symmetrical anticline is
labeled in Figure 7). Axial planes that are not vertical but tipped a bit and have limbs that dip away from
the axial plane produce folds that are asymmetrical. Lastly, if axial planes are inclined or tipped a lot
from the vertical, the limbs of the folds become parallel to one another and the fold is described as
overturned (the limbs dip in the same direction). Figure 7 shows the three types of fold. Note, the axial
planes are labeled with red dashed lines on the symmetrical and asymmetrical synclines only; note how
the limbs of synclines dip towards the axial planes.

Besides the direction the fold limbs dip, another piece of information that helps geologists determine if
a fold is an anticline or syncline is the age relationships of the folded rock layers. Figure 8 shows the
progression of horizontal rock layers being folded into an anticline (A) and a syncline (B) and the age
relationships of the rock layers in the fold to the fold axis. After the rock layers are folded, surface
weathering exposes the different rock layers. In anticlines the oldest rock layers can be found nearest
the axial plane of the fold, and the layers of the rocks get younger the further away from the axis (on
both sides of the fold). The opposite is true for a syncline: the youngest rock layers are located nearest
the axial plane and they become older on either side of the fold axis.
 14

Figure 8. Age
relationships of rock
layers in anticlines and

Synclines

Where the axial plane intersects the earth’s surface, this forms a line called the hinge of the fold, which
is shown on the Figure 8 syncline as a dashed line through the word “young” on the syncline (the axial
plane is also sketched on the figure on the front of the block diagram). The syncline on the figure is
symmetrical and the fold would also be referred to as non-plunging. What is a plunging fold?
When a fold axis is tilted from the horizontal so that one end of the fold is pushed (or plunges) into the
earth along its length, the fold is referred to as plunging. The plunge direction is the direction which the
axis of the fold tilts down into the earth. Both synclines and anticlines can plunge into the earth and
they make different patterns on the map view of block diagrams. A plunging anticline makes a U or V-
shaped pattern that points or closes, in the direction of plunge. In map view, a plunging syncline makes
a U-shaped pattern that opens in the direction the fold is plunging. Note that both the synclines and
anticlines look the same in cross-section view (e.g. the front of the block diagrams) as non-plunging
folds.

Figure 9 (A) and (B) show 3-dimensional views of a plunging anticline. The rock layers on the front of the
block diagrams are the same as on the Figure 8 anticline, however the map view of the plunging
anticline shows the fold making a “V” shape, or pointing, in the direction the fold is plunging (Figure 9B).

A. B.

Figure 9. (A) Plunging

anticline. Note the dip of
the limbs away from the
axial surface. (B) Map
view of a plunging
syncline and anticline.
Both folds are plunging in
the same direction.
 15

The last structures we will investigate are domes and basins, structures with approximate circular
outcrop patterns. Domes resemble anticlines but the rock layers dip away in all directions away from
the center. The age relationship of the layers is similar to anticlines with older layers in the center of the
structure getting younger progressing away from the core of the dome. (Think of a stack of bowls
turned upside down; the bottom bowl is the oldest bowl.)

Basins resemble synclines but the rock layers dip uniformly towards the center of the structure in all
directions. The erosion of basins produces younger rock layers in the center of the basin getting older
the further you are away from the center of the structure. (Think of a stacking of bowls with the
youngest bowl being on the top of the stack.). Figure 10 shows block diagrams of both domes and basins
with the age and dip of the rock layers noted on each.

Figure 10. Dome and basin shown on block diagrams. Note, the map view shows the strike and dip of the rock layers,
and the age of the rock layers. The cross-section view resembles an anticline (dome) and syncline (basin).

In summary, there are two methods that help us identify synclines and basins, and anticlines and domes
on block diagrams and maps. Determine the: 1) dip angle of the limbs or sides of the folds, and 2) the
age relationships of the rock layers in the fold relative to the axis of folding.

Faults

As mentioned previously, rocks that undergo brittle deformation break apart. Fractures form when
there is no movement along the breaks in the rock. One example of fractured rocks commonly occurs
when overlying rocks are removed and/or uplift brings the rock to shallower crustal depths compared to
the depth where the rock formed.

A fault is a fracture across which movement has happened. Some faults show small amounts of
movement. Whereas other faults display thousands of kilometers of displacement, e.g. the San Andreas
fault. There are several different types of faults and they result from different types of stress. The first
 16

two types of faults were recognized by miners working in underground mine shafts, and the terminology
they used to describe fault movement on the faults is still retained in those definitions.

Figure 11 shows the two types of faults: 1) normal faults which commonly form in areas subjected to
extensional forces, and 2) reverse faults which form in areas subjected to compression. On
Figure 11, footwall refers to where miners would have walked, the hanging wall is the area above the
fault where they hung their lanterns. In the case of normal faults, the hanging wall side of the fault
moves downward and the footwall moves upward. Reverse faults have the opposite motion than
normal faults. The hanging wall moves up and over the footwall rocks, which results in a shortening and
thickening of the crust.

Figure 11. Faults shown on block

diagrams. Both faults are shown in
profile view on the blocks (like
slicing into a cake and seeing the
side of it).

A. Normal fault: hanging wall

moved downward.
A. Normal Fault

B. Reverse fault: hanging wall

moves upward and over the
footwall. The fault plane is inclined
approximately 65° angle to the
horizontal.

B. Reverse Fault

The term thrust fault is given to reverse faults that have low angle fault planes. Contrast the angle of
the reverse fault shown in Figure 11 to the thrust fault angle in Figure 12. Thrust faults commonly form
in compressional plate settings especially in areas of continental-continental convergence, where large
scale mountain ranges have form.

Figure 12. Thrust fault having a low angle fault plane (dark black line). The fault is
inclined approximately 20° angle to the horizontal.
 1

Strike-slip faults are the third type of fault and vary from the normal and reverse faults in that the
plane of the fault is nearly vertical, and they result from shear forces (Figure 13). Movement is
along the length (or strike) of the fault and typically only sliding motion occurs with no (or small
amounts of) vertical motion. The sense of motion on strike-slip faults is described as right-lateral
or left-lateral, referring to the direction the opposite side of the fault is moving. Transform faults are
strike-slip faults.

Figure 13. This figure shows a right-lateral

strike-slip fault. The blocks of earth on either
side of the fault slide or move to the right.

In large areas that are affected by extensional forces, a series of oppositely inclined normal faults form
downdropped basins (called grabens), and upthrown blocks (referred to as horsts). Figure 14
shows three normal faults that have formed horsts and grabens. The upthrown horst blocks are
topographically higher on the landscape and can form hills and mountains, whereas the grabens
are downdropped basins that are surrounded by the higher elevation horst blocks.

Figure 14. Horsts and grabens form in areas where extension has thinned the crust and created normal faults
that border basins (grabens) and upthrown hills (horsts).
Note: the arrows on the top of the figure above the rock layers represent the direction the crust is being
extended.
 2

Part 2: Geologic Structures Questions

20. a. Describe what is meant by the terms stress and strain.

Stress:

Strain:

b. Describe the conditions that create elastic, plastic, and brittle deformation.

Elastic:

Plastic:

Brittle:

21. Complete the table below.

Type of stress Does the stress result Associated type of Type of fault created
in stretching, plate boundary
shortening, or
tearing?
Tensional

Compressional

Shear
 3

22. Refer to the symbol below to answer questions 3a. through 3c.

1. What is the (red) arrow pointing to?

2. Use a protractor to measure the strike of the symbol (the long line of the symbol). The direction
of north is noted to the left of the symbol.

3. What is the dip amount and direction of the symbol?

23. Refer to the block diagram below and answer the following questions.
Note: the north arrow is located on the top right of the block diagram.

What direction is the strata dipping in

the block diagram?

How steeply are the strata

dipping?

On the top of the block diagram,

draw a strike and dip symbol that
on
the figure.
 4

24. Using a protractor, measure the dip angle for the rock layers shown on the figure below (Hint:
measure one of the layers; they are all dipping about the same amount).

What number represents the oldest

rock layer?

25. The two figures below are of folds. Dip symbols are located on the map view (top) of the diagrams, and
the ages of the rock layers are denoted by the numbers (1 oldest, 4 the youngest). Below each figure
identify the type of fold, whether the fold is symmetrical or asymmetrical, and if the fold is plunging or
non-plunging. Note: dashed line on the map view is the fold hinge.

4 3
4
2
3

1
1 2

Type of fold: Type of fold:

Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Symmetrical or Asymmetrical

 5

26. Identify the type of fold and direction of plunge on the map view below. Note the strike and dip
symbols and age of the layers are on the figure; north arrow is located to the right of the map.

direction:

27. Below figures A. and B. below, write the name and fully identify all aspects of the fold structure (e.g.,
symmetrical, asymmetrical, plunging, non-plunging fold type). If the fold is plunging, use the north arrow
on the map view and describe the direction of plunge.

Note: the age of the rock layers is denoted by numbers: 1 = oldest, highest number=youngest

(A) (B)
 6

28. Below each figure C. and D., write the name of the geologic structure.
Note: the age of the rock layers is denoted by numbers: 1 = oldest, highest number=younger

(C) (D)

Structure: Structure:

Let us now investigate how faults appear on block diagrams.

29. For block diagrams A through C below, identify and name the type of fault shown.
*Note: see the appendix at the end of this lab for a key to geologic symbols on figure C.
 7

30. Draw the faults on the top of block diagrams A. and B in question #10.

31. The photograph below shows a fault cutting through rocks at an outcrop. The fault is drawn on the photo
with a dashed (red) line.

1. Draw arrows on the picture on both sides of the fault that indicate the fault motion.
 8

2. What type of fault is shown on the rock outcrop photo on page 6?

3. Referring to the fault shown on the rock outcrop photo on page 6, use a protractor
and measure the fault angle to the horizontal.

32. The two block diagrams below show a fault in map view. Identify the type of fault and direction of fault
motion. Write your answers below each figure.

Fault: Fault:

Now let us put together the different structural information and age of rock layers on geologic maps.
The figure below shows a geologic map in map view. Instead of numbering the different layers of rock,
the letters on the map coincide with units of time on the geologic time scale (e.g., O= Ordovician,
S=Silurian, etc.).

Legends on a geologic map are always formatted with the oldest rock unit at the bottom of the
explanation column and the youngest unit at the top. The direction of north, and strike and dip symbols
are listed on the map (like you have seen on previous block diagrams).
 9

33. Analyze the geologic map shown above and identify the geologic structure on the map. Use all terms that
accurately describe the structure.

Geologic structure:

Describe the criteria you used to determine the type of structure on the map above.
 10

The figure below shows a Google Earth image of a geologic structure from an altitude of about 9 km.
The different layers of rock are easily visible because the area is located in an arid environment with
little vegetation covering the earth’s surface. The Google Earth image is an enlarged view of part of
the geologic map on page 10. The location of the river is labeled on both figures. The image is provided
for your reference to help you understand the structure shown on the geologic map.

Google Earth image of the

map on the next page.

River

34. Analyze the geologic map on the following page (page 10) and answer the following questions. The legend
on the bottom left of the map shows the age relationship of the rock layers. Geologic time terms are
used (not absolute ages).

1. What is the name and age of the youngest rock formation shown on the geologic map? (Note:
several layers on the map legend only list geologic age and no name formation. Leave the name
answer space blank if it applies to your answer.)

Name:

Age:

2. Describe where on the map this rock formation is located.

 11

35.
1. What is the name and age of the oldest rock formation shown on the geologic map? (Note:
several layers on the map legend only list geologic age and no name formation. Leave the name
answer space blank if applicable.)

Name:

Age:

2. Describe where on the map this rock formation is located.

River Geologic map for use in

questions 15-18. (The
9
may be helpful to you to
view.
 12

36. Place a strike and dip symbols in the two (white boxes) on the geologic map (on page 9). You do not
need to indicate the amount of dip, only the strike and dip directions.

37. What is the geologic structure represented on the map on page 9. Use all terms that accurately
describe the structure.
ERTH 20 Name: _______________________

Appendix 1

Guide to common symbols on geologic maps