What I Need to Know

This module covers the scientific principles that the historical

geologists used to describe the Earth’s past. This will also serve as a guide to the
clues that were left on Earth, the different events, and the time it took these events
to happen which are depicted in the geologic time scale.

In this module, you will be able to determine the different divisions that comprise the
geologic time scale which uses the two methods of record: the absolute and the
relative dating.

The module is composed of the:

● Lesson 1: Geologic Time Scale: Relative and Absolute Dating

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Name the divisions of the geologic time scale.

2. Characterize each major and subdivisions in the geologic time scale.
3. Describe how relative and absolute dating provide evidence of geologic
history.
 Lesson

1 Geologic Time Scale

Deposition of sediments contribute to reshaping the surface of the Earth. Deposits

are laid down by different environmental factors such as volcanic eruption, erosion,
weathering debris of rocks (clay and silts), and even all its fossil content and historical
information.

Earth history including its rock strata, the rock study, and discovery, as well as the
fossils, are engraved in one of the most important materials known as geologic
records. The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth’s history.

The importance of the geologic time scale is, it serves as a standard timeline used to
describe the age of rocks, fossils, and the events that formed them. It is a device which
is of great help to the science of geology, and it is owed to the explorations and studies
recorded by geologists.

Knowing about how life began in the past, the events, and principles behind the
Earth’s history enables us to conform with the alterations or consequences that we
might encounter or experience in the near future. As a part of the new generation, we
should be appreciative and accept that all things that are present in our time were
the outcomes of the Earth’s history.

What’s In

In the previous lessons, you had learned that stratified rocks are products of
sedimentary processes which include weathering and erosion of pre-existing rocks.
Wherein, these sediments will be transported by the agent of erosion such as water,
wind, or ice, and deposited in seas and acted upon by the process of compaction and
lithification. As time goes by, these sedimentary rocks will form layers or stratification
representing periods of deposition of sediments. Based on this, there are several laws
that govern stratigraphy as proposed by Nicolas Steno.

Nicolas Steno’s Law of Stratigraphy opens our eyes to the world of rock layers and its
formation. It also shows how endogenic and exogenic geological processes cause
alteration in rocks that lead to the formation and deformation of rock layers.
Let us find out if you can still recall how these laws are depicted in the rock strata.
Identify the law of stratigraphy the following diagrams represent.

A B

Guide questions:

1. What laws of stratigraphy does the picture in letter A tell us? _____________
2. In picture B, new rocks were introduced. What law is best explained in this
kind of rock stratum? ____________________________________
3. How old is the rock that was intruded in stratum B? _______________________
4. What geologic processes existed in stratum B which causes its
deformation? __________________________________
5. If you want to determine the age of the rocks in the rock layer, what method
are you going to use? ________________________________
 What Is It

Since the beginning, geologists have been studying the Earth to

unwrap the secrets of the past. They have been analyzing rock
samples gathered from different continents in the world including its layers and its
correlation with the fossils. This helps in relating the sequence of events in the
Earth’s history which is clearly presented in the geologic time scale.

The geologic time scale is divided into a series of time intervals which are equal in
length. These time intervals are different from that of a clock. They are divided
according to the significant events in the history of Earth such as the mass extinction
of a large population of fauna and flora.
The table represents the divisions of the geologic time in Earth’s history that are
separated into eons, periods, and epochs. The Earth’s age which is 4.6 billion years,
was separated into different spans of time to handily indicate the events.
DIVISION IN THE GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

Cenozoic Era
It is also known as the age
of recent life or age of mammals.
It has the most complete
record of any era because the
rocks are more accessible.
 DIVISION OF THE CENOZOIC ERA

Cenozoic Era
There are three periods in
this era: Quaternary,
Paleogene, and Neogene.

Paleogene Period Neogene Period

Most Earth’s It gives rise to early
climate was tropical. primates.
Continents drifted It consists of
apart creating vast Miocene and Pliocene
stretches of oceans Epochs
It consists of the
Paleocene, Eocene, and
Oligocene Epoch

Quaternary Period
It is the most recent
period.
It is also termed
Anthropogene period.
It is divided into two
epochs:
Pleistocene and Holocene.
Holocene - when human
civilization arose.

Relative and Absolute Dating

Scientists first developed the geologic time scale by studying rock layers and index
fossils. The information gathered by the scientists placed the Earth rock strata in
order by relative age. Geologic time is often discussed in two forms: relative time and
absolute time.

Relative time is a subdivision of the Earth’s geology in a specific order based upon the
relative age relationships (commonly, vertical, or stratigraphic position). Relative time
can be established usually based on fossils. On the other hand, absolute time refers
to the numerical ages in millions of years or some other measurement. These are
obtained by radioactive dating methods performed on appropriate rocks.

Relative time can be referred to as the physical aspects found in rocks while absolute
time refers to the measurements taken upon those to determine the actual time it
expired. The time scale is depicted in its traditional form with the oldest at the bottom
and the youngest at the top.

What’s More

Activity 1.1 it’s a Date

1. Fill in the data table to show the number of millions of years each era lasted
based on relative and absolute dating. Choose your answer from the given
choices below.
a. 4.048 mya c. 299 mya e. 4,600mya
b. 69 mya d. 184mya

The Divisions of Percent Millions of years

Geologic Time

The Age of the Earth 100%

A. Cenozoic Era 1.5%

B. Mesozoic Era 4%

C. Paleozoic Era 6.5%

D. Precambrian Time 88%

Guide Questions:

1. Based on the data table, which is the oldest era? _________________

2. How old is the shortest era? _______________
3. How old is the Cenozoic Era? ______________
4. What dating method is applied in the activity? Why? _____________
5. Where can we apply the relative dating method? ________________
Things to Ponder
⮚ Geologic time scale is a timeline that illustrates Earth’s past.
⮚ Geologic time scale describes the order of duration of major events on Earth for
the last 4.6 billion years.
⮚ Geologic time scale was developed after the scientist observed changes in the
fossils and rocks going from oldest to youngest sedimentary rocks.
⮚ Geologic time scale was divided into four divisions which include the Eons, Era,
Period, and Epoch.
⮚ Eons is the largest division in the geologic time scale.
⮚ Relative dating or age is the order of the rocks from oldest to youngest.
⮚ Relative dating does not determine the exact age of rock or fossils but does learn
which one is older or younger than the other.
⮚ Relative age of rocks based on the order gives its physical division in the geologic
time scale.
⮚ Absolute dating or age measures the number of radioactive elements in rocks to
give the ages to each division of time in the geologic time scale.
⮚ Absolute time refers to the numerical ages in millions of years or some other
measurement.

Assessment

Directions: Read each statement and choose the letter of the correct answer. Shade
the circle that corresponds to the correct answer.
1. What information does the geologic time record provide?
A. The rate of fossil formation.
B. The thickness of sedimentary rock layers.
C. The time since the evolution of dinosaurs.
D. The life forms and geologic events in Earth’s history.

2. How do geologists separate time into period?

A. By the time the fossil is discovered.
B. By looking at the relative time of a fossil.
C. By special events that have happened in that period.
D. By counting the years that a fossil has been preserved.

3. What do you call the method of placing geologic events in sequential order as
determined by their position in the rock record?
A. Absolute dating
B. Correlation
C. Relative dating
 D. Uniformitarianism

4. What is the relevance of absolute time?

A. It is useful if fossils are present. It gives a specific date in an object.
B. It gives a non-specific date in an object.
C. It only gives the sequence in which events have taken place.

5. Which of the following is the primal in absolute dating method?

A. Cross-cutting relationships
B. Educated estimates
C. Fossils
D. Radioactive decay

6. If geological time will be recognized, which method is primarily used?

A. Calculation of alpha decay of isotopes.
B. Calculation of beta decay of isotopes.
C. Correlation of rock types across vast.
D. Distances correlation of magnetic signatures in rocks.

7. Which of the following era is sometimes called “the age of fish” or

“ancient life”?
A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Paleozoic
D. Precambrian

8. What will be the sequence of division in the geologic time scale, if the order of
position is from shortest to longest?
A. era, period, epoch
B. epoch, period, era
C. period, epoch, era
D. epoch, era, period

9. Scientists use a criterion to decide where to place the boundaries between the
major divisions of the geologic time scale. They consider major changes.
Where can these major changes be found?
A. written in the fossil record
B. occurring in the solar system
C. in structure of the Earth’s layer
D. in the arrangement of the continent
10. In which division in the geologic time scale did the continents come
together to form the supercontinent called Pangaea?
A. Paleozoic Era
B. Cenozoic Era
C. Triassic Period
D. Jurassic Period

11. How do eras differ from periods?

E. They have a longer span of time.
F. They have subdivided into epochs.
G. They have longer durations than eons
H. They have boundaries marked by mass extinctions.

12. Which epoch in the geologic time scale designates human lives in a very
short period of time?
I. Eocene
J. Holocene
K. Pliocene
L. Pleistocene

13. Why are fossils recorded in the geologic time scale said to be incomplete?
A. Most organisms never became fossils.
B. The absence of tools to be used for tracing.
C. The remains of past organisms decayed faster.
D. All of the above

14. How will you describe the arrangement of the rock in the geologic time
scale?
A. They arranged an absolute dating.
B. They are based on its composition.
C. They are based on relative dating.
D. They are arranged in decades and centuries.

15. What makes fossils essential to scientists and the history of the Earth?
A. It predicts what organisms will become extinct.
B. It analyzes the composition of sedimentary rock
C. It describes the history of past life and environment.
D. It presents the temperature of the oceans in different depths.