GEOLOGICAL TIME
Earth's History is recorded by geological events by the law of sequence,
wherein it is possible to deduce the relative sequence in which events
were established. We use a geological time scale in which the entire
history is divided into eras, eras into periods, periods into epochs, and
epochs into ages. They have all been given names. Click below for
a description and figure.
Geological
Time Scale
Fossils
are the remains or traces of an organism (plant or animal) that lived
and died in prehistoric times. It is a remnant or trace from a past
geological age, such as a skeleton, footprint, or a leaf imprint.
The study of fossils is called paleontology. Fossils are used
to determine the age of rocks. Rocks of different ages contain different
fossil assemblages. So, if the age of the fossil is known, the age
of the rock can be determined. A relative geological
time scale can be created.