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The isotope commonly used to date rocks is Uranium-238 (U-238). It decays into Lead-206 over a predictable timescale, allowing geologists to determine the age of igneous and metamorphic rocks through a process known as uranium-lead dating. This method is particularly useful for dating rocks that are millions to billions of years old. Other isotopes, like Potassium-40 and Rubidium-87, are also used for dating different types of rocks.

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Which isotope is used to date ancient such as fossils?

The isotope of carbon is used to date the ancient fossils. Since every living creature had organic matter and carbon is an integral part of that organic matter, it is conventional to use carbon isotope.


What would you expect the half-life of the isotope used to date the age of Earth at 4.6 billion years used to be?

The half-life of the isotope used to date the age of Earth at 4.6 billion years would need to be roughly around 1.5 billion years. This would allow for the gradual decay of the isotope over time, leading to the age estimate of the Earth.


Can carbon dating be used on a stone to determine it's age?

It is not possible to carbon date rocks. Carbon 14 dating is based on the absorption of atmospheric carbon by livingthings. When the thing dies it no longer takes in carbon from the atmosphere through processes such as eating or respiration and levels of C14 in the body deplete due to the natural process of radioactive decay. By seeing how much C14 remains it is possible to see how long it has been since that animal died.However there are a range of other dating methods which can be used.


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 isotope is used to date ancient artifacts such as fossils?

Carbon-14 dating is commonly used to date ancient artifacts such as fossils. This method relies on the half-life of carbon-14, which isotope decays at a known rate, to estimate the age of the artifact by measuring the remaining carbon-14 in it.

Related Questions

Which isotope is used to date ancient such as fossils?

The isotope of carbon is used to date the ancient fossils. Since every living creature had organic matter and carbon is an integral part of that organic matter, it is conventional to use carbon isotope.


How is radioactive decay used to date rocks?

Radioactive decay is used to date rocks by measuring the amount of parent and daughter isotopes in a sample. The rate of decay of a radioactive isotope is constant, allowing scientists to calculate the age of a rock by comparing the ratios of parent and daughter isotopes present. This technique is known as radiometric dating and can be used to determine the age of rocks millions to billions of years old.


What isotope is used to date plants and animals that lived during the last 10 000 years?

The primary dating isotope is carbon-14


What is the difference between radiogenic isotope and stable isotope?

Radiogenic isotopes are formed through the radioactive decay of parent isotopes, while stable isotopes do not undergo radioactive decay. Radiogenic isotopes are used in geochronology to date rocks and minerals, while stable isotopes are used in various fields such as climate science and nutrition studies.


What is the most radioactive isotope known to date?

The most radioactive isotope known to date is Californium-252.


How do scientists use the halflife of radioactive isotopes to date rocks and fossils?

The basic idea is to compare the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within a material to the abundance of its decay products; it is known how fast the radioactive isotope decays.


Why are radioactive materials used to date rocks rocks?

Radioactive materials decay at predictable rates


Why are igneous rocks the best type of rock sample for radiomertic dating?

Because when they form, minerals in igneous rocks often contain only a parent isotope and none of the daughter isotope. This makes the isotope percentage more accurate and easier to interpret.


What would you expect the half-life of the isotope used to date the age of Earth at 4.6 billion years used to be?

The half-life of the isotope used to date the age of Earth at 4.6 billion years would need to be roughly around 1.5 billion years. This would allow for the gradual decay of the isotope over time, leading to the age estimate of the Earth.


The characteristic of the radioactive isotope uranium-238 that makes this isotope useful for accurately dating the age of a rock is the isotope's BLANK?

The characteristic of the uranium-238 isotope that makes it useful for dating rocks is its long half-life of about 4.5 billion years. This allows for accurate dating of rocks that are billions of years old.


Why is the isotope carbon-14 so helpful in dating rocks?

It is not useful in dating rocks. Only organic substances in terrestrial conditions. No carbon in rocks.


Can carbon dating be used on a stone to determine it's age?

It is not possible to carbon date rocks. Carbon 14 dating is based on the absorption of atmospheric carbon by livingthings. When the thing dies it no longer takes in carbon from the atmosphere through processes such as eating or respiration and levels of C14 in the body deplete due to the natural process of radioactive decay. By seeing how much C14 remains it is possible to see how long it has been since that animal died.However there are a range of other dating methods which can be used.