Plate Tectonic Theory

Types of plate boundaries

Divergent
Mid-oceanic plate
ridge
boundary

Transform
plate
boundary

Continentalcontinental
convergent
plate
boundary

Continentaloceanic
convergent
plate
boundary

Divergent
plate
boundary
Trench

Oceanicoceanic
convergent
plate
boundary

Correlation
Time equivalency in rock units with respect to time

Geologic
Time Scale

Correlation
Time equivalency in rock units with respect to time

1- Physical
Volcanic Ash Falls

Event Correlation

Varves

Radiometric dating

Paleomagnetism

Marker beds

2- Lithological
Physical continuity
Lthologic identity
Stratigraphic position

3- Biological
Fossil Assemblage

Index Fossils

Volcanic Ash consists

of very fine mineral and rock like
small sharp glass-particles less than
2 mm diameter, that are ejected
from a volcanic vent

Varves are apparently cyclical deposits, usually finely layered.

presumed that they are annual, reflecting seasonal deposits.

It is

Correlation: Physical Continuity

Lithological
Correlation
Walking the
outcrop
Comparing
properties of the
rocks.
Key beds

Lithological
Correlation
Physical continuity
Lithologic identity
Stratigraphic position

Transgressive and Regressive

Cycles of Deposition

Regression

Transgression

Biological Correlation

33

Biological Correlation
Index Fossils
Fossil Assemblage

Bio-correlation
1. Which layers are
the same?
2. Of the rock
layers E and F,
which is the
oldest?
3. What is the
correct
sequence of
rock layer from
oldest to
youngest?

Rock
Correlation
and
Time
Correlation

Rock
Correlation
and
Time
Correlation

Radiometric Decay Curve

Half life time is defined as the time required for half of the
original parent atoms to decay to daughter products or atoms

Radiometric Age Dating

Parent

Daughter

t1/2

238U

206Pb

4.47 b.y

235U

207Pb

707 m.y

232Th

208Pb

14 b.y

40K

40Ar

& 40Ca

Useful Range

>10 million years

1.28 b.y

>10,000 years
>10 million years

87Rb

87Sr

48 b.y

147Sm

143Nd

106 b.y.

14C

14N

5,730 y

Type of Material

100 - 70,000 years

Igneous & sometimes

metamorphic rocks and
minerals

Organic Material

Dating of the Earth

Technique

Age Range (billion years)

Uranium-Lead

3.600.05

Lead-Lead

3.560.10

Lead-Lead

3.740.12

Lead-Lead

3.620.13

Rubidium-Strontium

3.640.06

Rubidium-Strontium

3.620.14

Rubidium-Strontium

3.670.09

Rubidium-Strontium

3.660.10

Rubidium-Strontium

3.610.22

Rubidium-Strontium

3.560.14

Lutetium-Hafnium

3.550.22

Samarium-Neodymium

3.560.20

Example 1:
A rock contains crystals with 1000 ppm of isotope
X. If the half-life time for the decay of X to Y is 300
m.yr. Calculate the concentration of the isotope X
after 900 M.yr.
P/2h= present day parent concentration
Age of the rock = 300+300+300 = 900 M.yr.
Number of half lives = 3 Periods
1000/23 = 125 ppm = Parent concncentration
1000-125 = 875 ppm = Daughter concentration

Example 2:
A granite contains crystals with 150 ppm of 235U and
1050 ppm of 207Pb. The half-life for the decay of
235U to 207Pb is 704 M.yr. How old is the rock?.
P/2h= present day parent conc.
Original Parent conc. = 1050 + 150 = 1200 ppm
Present today conc. = 1200/2h = 150
= 1200/150 = 8 = 23
Age of rock = half life time X no. of lives
= 704 X 3 = 2112 M.yr = 2.11 B.yr.

Indirect Dating

Indirect Dating

Early Attempts of Measuring Earth Times:

1.

Rate of Sedimentation

Early Attempts of Measuring Earth Times:

3.

Growth Rings

Early Attempts of Measuring Earth Times:

4.

Varves

Early Attempts of Measuring Earth Times:

5.

Salinity of Oceans

Age of the Oceans =

1.6 X 1016 tons of sodium

1.6 X 10 8 tons of sodium

= 1 X 10 8

years (100 million years)