However,
scientists have grouped the layers into three major groups of era;
Most of the rocks exposed at the surface of the Earth are sedimentary
formed from particles of older rocks that have been broken apart by water Three Major Eras:
or wind.
1. Paleozoic Era- characterized by the appearance of invertebrates
Slight changes in particle size or composition result in the formation living in sea and land, primitive fishes, ferns, insects, land plants,
of layers, also called beds, in the rock. amphibians, and primitive reptiles (after Greek, paleo, ancient
and zoon, a living being).
Layering or bedding is the most obvious feature of sedimentary
rocks. 2. Mesozoic Era- often called the age of dinosaurs characterized by the
appearance of dinosaurs, primitive flowering plants, birds, and
Rock layers are also called strata (the plural form of the Latin word
mammals (after Greek, meso, middle).
stratum) and stratigraphy is the science of strata.
3. Cenozoic Era- often referred to as the age of mammals. This is the
Stratified Rocks- are rocks that is made of visible layers of sediment
latest era and the current layer that is still deposited in oceans,
formed by compaction, cementation or crystallization of successive
deserts, and swamps all around the Earth today (after Greek,
beds of deposited materials.
kainos, new).
Sediment layers- create the banding pattern visible in stratified
rocks.
Methods of Geological Dating: Numerical and Absolute Dating
Stratification- division into layers, is the most obvious characteristic
of sedimentary rocks. Relative Dating- scientists compare different layers of rock to
determine an ordered sequence of events in geologic history.