Author Question: Radiometric dating was used to age the ocean floor which was found to be older than the land at the ... (Read 69 times)

@Brianna17 · **on:** Aug 22, 2018

Radiometric dating was used to age the ocean floor which was found to be older than the land at the
center of continents. Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Question 2

The spreading ridges are almost devoid of free sediment especially compared to basins. Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

JaynaD87 · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: F
Radiometric dating is used to age the Earth's crust including the ocean floor. The oceanic crust,
however, is only dated to be 200 million years old, whereas, the continental crust is much older at 4
billion years old. This is due to the creation of new crust in the seafloor and the destruction of older
oceanic crust. Information can be found in the section Wegener's Idea Is Transformed.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: T
The young spreading centers are almost free of sediment while the age and thickness of sediments at
the basins are greater. The oldest sediments are found at the leading edges of subducting plates.
Information can be found in the section The Confirmation of Plate Tectonics.