ASBOG Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Preparation Guide

The Law of Superposition is foundational to relative dating in geology because it establishes that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom, and the youngest layers are at the top. This principle allows geologists to determine the relative ages of rock layers and the fossils contained within them. By applying this law, geologists can create a chronological sequence of geological events, allowing them to interpret the geological history of an area.

In contrast, the Law of Conservation of Mass addresses the physical properties of matter during chemical reactions and is not directly related to the dating of geological layers. The Principle of Original Horizontality states that sedimentary layers are originally deposited in horizontal layers, which provides context for the orientation of rock layers but does not directly lead to relative dating. The Principle of Faunal Succession relates to the appearance and disappearance of species in the geological record, helping with correlation between rock layers, but it does not establish the foundational framework for determining age relationships in layers themselves.