1. The branch of geology that uses fossils and other biological remains to determine the age and sequence of rock layers and to correlate strata across different locations.
Usage: technical; geology

Examples

• Biostratigraphy relies on the study of fossils to establish the relative ages of sedimentary rocks.
• Paleontologists use biostratigraphy to identify and date geological formations across continents.
• The biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous period has been refined through the discovery of new fossil assemblages.
• Biostratigraphy is essential for correlating rock sequences in oil and gas exploration.
• By analyzing microfossils, geologists can apply biostratigraphy to date deep-sea sediment cores.