Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

A biostratigraphic unit is a section of geologic strata defined by the specific fossils it contains, rather than by its rock type. This method is part of biostratigraphy, the study and arrangement of fossils within rock layers to determine the relative geologic age of the rock.12

Biostratigraphy uses fossils to date rock strata. A biozone, for example, is a stratigraphic unit comprising all strata that contain a particular fossil, indicating deposition during that fossil's existence. This approach is a key component of stratigraphy, the scientific discipline focused on describing rock successions and interpreting them within a general time scale.234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.