In
geology
Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...
, a succession is a series of
strata
In geology and related fields, a stratum (: strata) is a layer of Rock (geology), rock or sediment characterized by certain Lithology, lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by v ...
or
rock units in
chronological
Chronology (from Latin , from Ancient Greek , , ; and , ''wikt:-logia, -logia'') is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time. Consider, for example, the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the deter ...
order. Rock successions can be seen in
cross sections through
rock, for example in a
road cut or
cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff or rock face is an area of Rock (geology), rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. ...
. With
sedimentary layers of rocks, newer units
will be above older units, except in cases of
inversion. This
paradigm
In science and philosophy, a paradigm ( ) is a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns, including theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitute legitimate contributions to a field. The word ''paradigm'' is Ancient ...
is also called faunal succession and fossil succession.
William Smith's "discovery that strata may be identified by the fossils they contain became known as the law of faunal succession."
As a general rule:
In this way, "succession became a unifying principle by which rock units are categorized and recognized widely."
This "general principle called the ''Law of Fossil Succession'': The kinds of animals and plants found as fossils change through time. When we find the same kinds of fossils in rocks from different places, we know that the rocks are the same age."
There is a technical distinction between succession and ''sequence'' that is important to geologists: succession is any layers of rock in chronological order, while sequence is chronological ''and uninterrupted''.
See also
*
Age of the Earth
The age of Earth is estimated to be 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years. This age may represent the age of Earth's accretion (astrophysics), accretion, or Internal structure of Earth, core formation, or of the material from which Earth formed. This dating ...
*
Carbon dating
*
Evolution
Evolution is the change in the heritable Phenotypic trait, characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift act on genetic variation, re ...
*
Geochronology
Geochronology is the science of Chronological dating, determining the age of rock (geology), rocks, fossils, and sediments using signatures inherent in the rocks themselves. Absolute geochronology can be accomplished through radioactive isotopes, ...
*
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a mile ().
The canyon and adjacent rim are contained within Grand Canyon Nati ...
*
Igneous intrusion
*
Inclusion (mineral)
*
Smith's laws
References
Bibliography
* Patrick Wyse Jackson, ''The Chronologers' Quest: The Search for the Age of the Earth'', Cambridge University Press, 2006 .
* Simon Winchester, ''The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology'', HarperCollins, 2009 .
* William Smith
''Strata Identified by Organized Fossils'' London: W. Arding, 1816.
Geochronology
{{Geochronology-stub