Questions: A relative dating principle used to determine whether fault M is younger or older than layer I could be principle of fossil succession principle of inclusions principle of lateral continuity principle of superposition principle of cross cutting relations principle of original horizontality

A relative dating principle used to determine whether fault M is younger or older than layer I could be principle of fossil succession principle of inclusions principle of lateral continuity principle of superposition principle of cross cutting relations principle of original horizontality

Transcript text: A relative dating principle used to determine whether fault $M$ is younger or older than layer I could be principle of fossil succession principle of inclusions principle of lateral continuity principle of superposition principle of cross cutting relations principle of original horizontality

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Problem

The problem asks for a relative dating principle to determine whether fault M is younger or older than layer I.

Step 2: Understand the Principles

Principle of Fossil Succession: Uses fossils to determine the relative age of layers.
Principle of Inclusions: States that any rock fragments included in another rock must be older than the host rock.
Principle of Lateral Continuity: Layers of sediment initially extend laterally in all directions.
Principle of Superposition: In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom.
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relations: States that any geological feature that cuts across another feature must be younger than the feature it cuts.
Principle of Original Horizontality: Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally.

Step 3: Apply the Relevant Principle

To determine whether fault M is younger or older than layer I, we use the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relations. This principle states that the fault (M) must be younger than the layers it cuts through.