Question

How is "age" determined for fossil remains and why is volcanic rock/material so special?

Answer 1

The age of fossils is determined by carbon dating and by radioactive calculations. Since all living things are made up of carbon, the relative age of fossils, which were once living animals or plants, can be calculated by estimating at what time the fossil was alive. When the sun's rays shine on animals or plants and when this collides with nitrogen, it creates carbon 14, a radioisotope.

fossils, of animal and plant life. Mostly, of course plant life would have decayed, but leaf fossils do remain if they were immediately covered by volcanic ash that preserved them from rot. The majority of volcanic lava flows are basic that is they contain only about 40-50% of silica.