High School

How do we date mammal fossils in limestone deposits?

A. Mammal fossils in limestone are dated using radiocarbon dating.
B. Mammal fossils in limestone are dated through relative dating techniques.
C. Mammal fossils in limestone are dated using luminescence dating.
D. Mammal fossils in limestone are dated by examining the geological strata and index fossils.

Answer :

Final answer:

Dating mammal fossils in limestone deposits uses both relative dating (observing geological layers) and absolute dating (radiometric techniques like carbon-14 dating and thermoluminescence). These techniques provide a rough estimate of when the animal died.

Explanation:

Dating mammal fossils in limestone deposits involves several methods. One method used is relative dating which observes the stratification of geological layers where the fossils are located, oftentimes making use of indicator artifacts or species to estimate the age of the fossil.

However, for a more accurate dating, absolute dating can also be used. Techniques such as radiometric dating which includes carbon-14 dating can be employed. This isotope is present in all plants and animals and has a known half-life of around 5730 years. Through measuring the remaining carbon-14 in the fossil, scientists can determine roughly when the animal died.

Additionally, thermoluminescence is another absolute dating technique used by paleoanthropologists, specially when fossils or the sediments they're in have been exposed to high-temperature events, like volcanic eruptions.

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