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I don't really know how it works or what it entails, but there's a process called carbon dating that's frequently mentioned to determine the age of various objects. I'm not sure exactly, but it involves determining the half-life of one of the elements in the fossil, and then determining how long ago it started to decay.

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14y ago
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12y ago

Radiocarbon Dating (aka Carbon Dating) is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope Carbon-14 (14C) to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. When plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic material during photosynthesis they incorporate a quantity of 14C that approximately matches the level of this isotope in the atmosphere. After plants die or are consumed by other organisms, the 14C fraction of this organic material declines at a fixed exponential rate due to the radioactive decay of 14C. Comparing the remaining 14C fraction of a sample to that expected from atmospheric 14C allows the age of the sample to be estimated.

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11y ago

It is impossible to tell an old fossil's age. This is because everything starts with a different carbon 13 count. Carbon dating won't help. This is also why when a professor tells you something is millions of years old, he's lying. He wasn't there when it died.

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13y ago

u look at the layer of where it came from aNd if that dont help then go to a website for fossils and u probaly will find it there

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11y ago

carbon dating.

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Q: How do you calculate a fossils age?
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What fossils are useful in determining the relative age of rocks?

Index fossils


What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?

Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.


Can you tell the age of the earth from fossils?

no but you can tell the age of the fossil from the age of the rock around it, you cant tell the age of the earth from fossils is because animals with bones were didnt exist until later in the earth's "life"


How do geologists use fossils to determine rocks age what are this fossils called?

they find the hard part of the fossil


What can be used to date fossils in rocks to give an approximate age.?

The study of strata is called stratigraphy. Stratigraphy can be used to determine an approximate age of fossils in rocks.

Related questions

What fossils are useful in determining the relative age of rocks?

Index fossils


What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rock?

Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.


What are index fossils and how are they used to determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?

Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.


Fossils such as trilobites that can be used to estabish the age of rocks are called?

I think they are called Index Fossils...


Why do scientist use radioisotopes to find the age of fossils?

Radiometric dating of fossils is not possible beyond roughly 70,000 years. However, when fossils are found in association with strata of volcanic and metamorphic rocks which can be dated radiometrically, a very accurate age of the fossils can be determined.


Can you tell the age of the earth from fossils?

no but you can tell the age of the fossil from the age of the rock around it, you cant tell the age of the earth from fossils is because animals with bones were didnt exist until later in the earth's "life"


How do geologists use fossils to determine rocks age what are this fossils called?

they find the hard part of the fossil


What can be used to date fossils in rocks to give an approximate age?

The study of strata is called stratigraphy. Stratigraphy can be used to determine an approximate age of fossils in rocks.


Can be used to date fossils in rocks to give an approximate age.?

The study of strata is called stratigraphy. Stratigraphy can be used to determine an approximate age of fossils in rocks.


What can be used to date fossils in rocks to give an approximate age.?

The study of strata is called stratigraphy. Stratigraphy can be used to determine an approximate age of fossils in rocks.


What are the difference between reworked fossils and leaked fossils?

From the law of faunal succession,older beds are characterized by fossils of older age and the younger beds are characterized by younger age fossils.But in some exceptional condition the younger fossils are reported in the older formation and those are termed as leaked fossils. whereas,Fossils of older age occur in younger rock are known as reworked fossils.They are derived from the older rocks by reworking ad recycling of sediments.


If the isochron slope is 0.0077 what is the age in millions of years when first evidence of abundant fossils?

Q: If the isochron slope is 0.0077 what is the age in millions of years when first evidence of abundant fossils?