One method to obtain the absolute age of a sedimentary rock is to obtain a radiometric date on an interbedded volcanic rock.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiometric dating involves the measurement of the amount of a particular radioactive isotope present in a sample. As radioactive isotopes decay at a known rate, measuring the amount of a particular isotope that remains in a material can provide information about how long ago it was formed. Volcanic rocks often contain a variety of radioactive isotopes that can be used for dating, such as uranium-lead or potassium-argon, and they can sometimes be found interbedded with sedimentary rocks. By measuring the radiometric age of a volcanic rock layer above or below a sedimentary layer, geologists can obtain an absolute age for the sedimentary rock as well.

One Method to Obtain the Absolute Age of a Sedimentary