In later life, Steno was a Catholic Bishop
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Nicolas Steno, born on January 11 in 1638. During his lifetime Steno rejected the authority of the “experts”, and came up with such discoveries as, the heart is a muscle that pumps blood, tears are formed in the eye, fossils are the remains of living organisms from previous geologic ages, and that older rocks tend to lie deeper in the earth than younger ones.
Steno wrote a book on geology in 1669 with ideas that are still taught in geology classes today.
The backbone of Steno’s system was that the layers of rock that contain fossil shells were made by the gradual accumulation of sediment. Steno saw no way to measure the number of years or centuries involved, but it was clear that the layers, one on top of the other, formed a sequence: The lowest layer had been formed first, the highest last.
Depending on their fossils and their sediments, the layers recorded the succession of seas, rivers, lakes, and soils that once covered the land. Layer by layer, the history of the world is written in stone.
Here is a perfect opportunity for you to earn some extra credit. Before 7:00 AM on Thursday, January 12, tell me: What is the name of Steno’s law of geology that states that newer layers of rock form on top of older layers?
Steno’s law of geology that states that newer layers of rock form on top of older layers is called the law of superposition.
Shayla Vu
11 Jan 12 at 9:28 pm
Law of Superposition
Isabella
11 Jan 12 at 9:00 pm
the law of superposition
Melanie Sillman
11 Jan 12 at 8:57 pm
law of superposition
Eddie swift
11 Jan 12 at 8:55 pm
the law of superposition
Sydney Anderson
11 Jan 12 at 8:52 pm
The name of Stenos law was the law of superposition.
Revekka Khaimova
11 Jan 12 at 7:39 pm