Principals of Fossil Succession

Essay by ladyevilUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, April 2007

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Downloaded 8 times

�PAGE � �PAGE �1� Your surname appears here

Your name appears here

Principles of fossil succession

February 11, 2007

Principles of fossil succession

The following document endeavors to provide a summarized description of the principle of fossil succession. The law of fossil succession first documented by W. Smith at the start of the 1800's, that diverse strata each has individual collection of fossils with the help of which the rocks may be distinguished and associated over long distances; and that these fossil forms succeed each other in a specific and regular order. This law, along with the law of superposition of strata, allows the relative age of a rock to be inferred from its substance of fossil faunas and floras.( Charig, A. J., Greenaway, F., Milner, A. C.)

As per the rules of fossil succession, fossil organisms follow one another in a certain and predictable order in doing so they enable researchers to decipher an era from the fossil matter.

This rule is derived mainly from the principle known as superposition. Fossils that are found in rocks lower down in the series are older than fossils in rocks higher up in the series. (Charig, A. J., Greenaway, F., Milner, A. C.)

Along with this, sets of fossils (popularly known as fossil assemblages) in a rock succeed each other through different periods in a set and defined order. When fossils are set according to their ages as per the law of superposition, they are not representing a random or disorganized series. Instead, they represent a set evolution from older rocks to younger rocks that in turn chart an account of transformation of existence on Earth. (Crusafont-Pairo, M., and Reguant, S.,)

Certain fossils, called Index fossils or Guide fossils, are very helpful in defining the point in time over which...