The geologic time scale was initially put together by ____.
A)radiometric dating and correlation
B)superposition, fossil succession and correlation
C)lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy
D)carbon-14 age dating and lithostratigraphy
E)geologists in the United States

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The geologic time scale was put together using the principles of superposition (which states that lower rock layers are older than higher rock layers), fossil succession (which says that fossils found in rock layers are indicative of the time period in which those organisms lived), and correlation (which involves matching rock layers in different locations to determine their relative ages). These principles were established by early geologists like William Smith and Georges Cuvier. While radiometric dating and other methods have been used to refine the geologic time scale, they were not the initial basis for its creation. Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, as well as carbon-14 age dating, may be used in conjunction with superposition, fossil succession, and correlation to determine the relative ages of rocks and fossils, but they are not the sole factors in determining the geologic time scale. Similarly, while geologists in the United States may have contributed to the development of the geologic time scale, it was not solely their project.

The Geologic Time Scale Was Initially Put Together by ____