stratigraphy

(noun)

The study of rock layers and the layering process.

Related Terms

Examples of stratigraphy in the following topics:

  • Carbon Dating and Estimating Fossil Age

    • The age of fossils can be determined using stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and radiocarbon dating.
    • Paleontologists rely on stratigraphy to date fossils.
    • Stratigraphy is the science of understanding the strata, or layers, that form the sedimentary record.
    • Stratigraphy and biostratigraphy can in general provide only relative dating (A was before B), which is often sufficient for studying evolution.