Can the age of the Earth be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses?
A) Yes.Sedimentation rates remain constant at any one locality throughout the Earth's history.
B) Yes.Sedimentary rocks are rarely metamorphosed or melted.
C) No.Sedimentary rocks make up only a small fraction of the rocks on the Earth's surface.
D) No.Much of the Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The age of the Earth cannot be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses because much of the Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves. Unconformities are gaps in the geological record where layers of rock have been eroded away or where there is a gap in the deposition of sedimentary layers. As a result, relying solely on sediment thicknesses would not provide an accurate estimate of the Earth's age.

Can the Age of the Earth Be Reliably Estimated from Sediment