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2 votes
1 answer
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In radiometric isochron dating why is at t=0 D*/Dref=const but P/Dref not?

I am a physics graduate and trying to understand one of the assumptions made for isochron dating of rocks: at crystallization time of the rock, $t=0$, the ratio of the parent isotope to a stable ...
NeStack's user avatar
  • 173
2 votes
1 answer
201 views

Potassum-Argon Dating and Proportions of Daughter Products in Potassium 40 Decay Channel

So Potassium 40 decays in such a way that roughly 89% of it becomes Calcium 40 and 11% of it becomes Argon 40. When they list these figures are they implying that after 1 half-life, of the 50% of the ...
MattGeo's user avatar
  • 303
3 votes
1 answer
289 views

Why can isotopes reflect the age of the Earth rather than the age of the supernova that created them?

Radiometric dating is based on heavier elements decaying into lighter elements, for example uranium decaying to lead. But wasn't all uranium in the Solar System created in one or more supernova? And ...
LocalFluff's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
293 views

How can scientists be confident of isotope ratios in past eras and varied locations, used for radiometric dating?

Radiometric dating relies on past isotope ratio predictions being very reliable. However, this is not necessarily so. For example, in Uranium forensics, 235U and 238U ratios are about the same for ...
497362's user avatar
  • 357