If you see a sedimentary rock outcrop and red layers of sand are on top of pale yellow layers of sand, what do you know for sure about the ages of the two layers?

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Lexi

Physics

26 July, 05:59

If you see a sedimentary rock outcrop and red layers of sand are on top of pale yellow layers of sand, what do you know for sure about the ages of the two layers?

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Isabelle Bauer · Answer 1

Answer: The yellow layer is definitely older than the red layer

Explanation: According to Nicolaus Steno's law of superposition and original horizontality. Older rocks underlie younger rocks.

Sedimentary rocks are usually deposited in horizontal layers in which each stratigraphic layer is laid down before another can be deposited upon it.

The red layer, in addition to being older, is also likely to have undergone intense oxidation due to earlier exposure.