1.

Geologic Principles
http://imnh.isu.edu/exhibits/online/geo_time/geo_principles.htm
2. http://www.boxofroxs.com/types_of_unconformities_p12280206.html

Geologic Principles
Beginning in the 1600's, with a renaissance in scientific investigation,
early geologists began to investigate the rock layers that were evident on the
land. Their early observations eventually proved to hold true and were
described as Principles. Four of these Principles are important in the
understanding of the Geologic Time Chart.
Law of Superposition
Nicolaus Steno, a Danish anatomist, geologist, and priest (1636 - 1686)
observed the changes in a sequence of rock layers while working in the
mountains of Italy. Steno's observations became known as the Law of
Superposition which simply stated that in a sequence of sedimentary rock
layers, each layer of rock is older than the layer above it and younger than the
rock layer below it. The Law of Superposition also applied to other geologic
events on the surface, such as lava flows and ash layers from volcanic
eruptions.

The Law of Superposition meant that the Coconino Sandstone is older

than the Toroweap Formation and younger than the Hermit Shale as seen in
the image above. As it pertained to the Geologic Time Chart, the Law of
Superposition meant that the Jurassic Period was older than the Cretaceous
Period and younger than the Triassic Period.
Law of Crosscutting Relationships
Described by Scotsman James Hutton (1726 - 1997), the Law of
Crosscutting Relationships stated that if a fault or other body of rock cuts
through another body of rock then it must be younger in age than the rock
through which it cuts and displaces.

In the image above a Dike of igneous rock cuts through three layers of
previously deposited sedimentary rocks. In this instance is the Dike the
Oldest, Next Oldest, or the Youngest layer of rock?
Law of Inclusions
The Law of Inclusions was also described by James Hutton and stated
that if a rock body (Rock B) contained fragments of another rock body (Rock
A), it must be younger than the fragments of rock it contained. The intruding
rock (Rock A) must have been there first to provide the fragments.

Law of Faunal Succession

In 1790, while engineering canals to link Britain's looming industrial age
together, William Smith observed that fossils of invertebrate animals found in
the rock layers appeared in a predictable sequence. From this observation the
Law of Faunal Succession was developed and stated that fossils occur in a
definite, invariable sequence in the geologic record.

As you can see in this image the fossil remains of living things are present
in the rock layers at definite intervals, and exist within a discrete period of
time. In this instance, using the Law of Superposition, would the age Rock
Unit A be older or younger than the age of Rock Unit B?

2. Law of Unconformities
Surfaces called unconformities represent gaps in the geologic record that formed wherever layers were
not deposited for a time or else layers were removed by erosion.

Surfaces or contacts between rock layers called unconformities represent periods of time where
deposition was paused. Depositional pauses result in gaps (missing layers) in the geologic record.

These gaps can be caused by erosion. Unconformities are important when interpreting the sequence
(chronology) of geologic events.

A disconformity is an unconformity between relatively parallel rock layers.

Angular unconformity
An angular unconformity is an unconformity between rock layers which are not parallel.

Nonconformity
A nonconformity is an unconformity between younger sedimentary rocks and crystalline rocks
(metamorphic or igneous types).