What you are referring to is actually called Uranium-Lead dating, a form of radioactive decay dating based on how long it takes various Uranium isotopes to decay to their ultimate stable daughter Lead isotopes. By measuring the relative ratios it is possible to calculate the original quantity of Uranium in the sample, then knowing the amount currently present the period of time for the missing amount to decay gives the age of the sample.
When gasoline used tetraethyl lead to boost octane ratings, lead contamination was often high enough that this method was very hard to get accurate results from (usually due to contamination of the lab facilities accidentally transferring to the sample).
Uranium dating methods were not used for fossils dating.
Uranium dating is very useful to evaluate the age of rocks and minerals.
Uranium-lead dating would be the best technique for dating volcanic rock containing uranium. This method is commonly used for dating ancient rocks due to the long half-lives of uranium isotopes and the presence of lead isotopes as decay products that allow for precise age determination.
radioactive carbon dating or uranium dating
Uranium is most useful for radiometric dating in igneous rocks, such as granite or basalt, and in metamorphic rocks that have undergone high temperature events. These types of rocks are typically rich in uranium and provide reliable age information for geologists. Sedimentary rocks are generally less suitable for uranium dating due to the potential for uranium to be remobilized.
Uranium radiometric dating is based on the decay of uranium isotopes, primarily uranium-238 and uranium-235, into stable lead isotopes over time. This technique is particularly useful for dating geological formations and ancient rocks, often spanning millions to billions of years. The method relies on measuring the ratio of parent uranium to daughter lead isotopes, allowing scientists to calculate the age of the sample. It is highly effective for dating materials that are older than about 1 million years.
For the uranium-lead method of dating see the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-lead_dating Polonium is not used for dating.
would you use uranium-lead radiometric dating to finnd an igneous rocks age
Dating rocks age.
Clair Cameron Patterson
Uranium-lead dating is often used for dating very old rocks, as it has a long half-life of about 4.5 billion years. This allows for dating rocks that are millions to billions of years old with good accuracy.
The upper limit of uranium-thorium-230 dating is 500 000 years.