Question

identifying the type of dating method
maria is a geologist studying a particular rock layer in a local mountain range. one of her colleagues had previously discovered an uncommon dinosaur fossil in the same rock layer. maria uses the known age of the fossil to determine the age of the rock layer she is studying.
what dating method is maria using?
dating

Explanation:

Relative dating (specifically biostratigraphy, using fossil age to date rock layers) is used here. Maria uses the known age of the dinosaur fossil (a fossil index) in the same rock layer to determine the rock's age, which is relative dating as it relates the rock's age to the fossil's known age without absolute numerical dating.

Answer:

Relative