Difference between revisions of "Potassium-argon dating"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | A dating method for minerals based on the | + | A dating method for minerals based on the measurement of the ratio of radioactive potassium to radioactive argon. Radioactive potassium decays to form radioactive argon at a known rate. Argon is rare since it can readily escape to the atmosphere. Thus, its presence in a freshly opened stones is assumed to be due to the decay of potassium. The age of meteorites and volcanic stones are measured by this method. |
| − | == | + | ==Resources and Citations== |
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998 | * ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998 | ||
| − | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "potassium-argon dating." | + | * ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com Comment: "potassium-argon dating." Accessed 9 Nov. 2004 . |
[[Category:Materials database]] | [[Category:Materials database]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:51, 25 August 2022
Description
A dating method for minerals based on the measurement of the ratio of radioactive potassium to radioactive argon. Radioactive potassium decays to form radioactive argon at a known rate. Argon is rare since it can readily escape to the atmosphere. Thus, its presence in a freshly opened stones is assumed to be due to the decay of potassium. The age of meteorites and volcanic stones are measured by this method.
Resources and Citations
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "potassium-argon dating." Accessed 9 Nov. 2004 .