Radiometric Dating: Measuring Parent & Daughter Isotopes

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Radiometric dating relies on measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes to determine the age of rocks. The initial ratio at the time of formation is crucial for accurate dating, which assumes that all daughter isotopes present are a result of radioactive decay. In potassium-argon dating, potassium-40 decays into argon-40, which can escape from molten rock. Newly formed igneous rocks contain negligible argon-40, and it is only after solidification that argon becomes trapped and accumulates. Understanding these processes is essential for reliable radiometric dating.
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You can date a rock by measuring the ratio of a parent isotope and its daughter. But you can only determine when the rock was formed if you know the ratio of parent to daughter isotopes when it was formed. So how is that ratio known?
 
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you assume that all daughter product is radiogenic, formed from radioactive decay process.
 
Take potassium-argon dating. Potassium 40 decays into argon 40, a gas, which can diffuse through lava and escape. Newly formed igneous rocks has essentially no argon 40. It's only when the rock solidifies that the argon becomes trapped and begins to accumulate.
 
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