2007-11-30 03:23:58 · 8 answers · asked by Calvin C 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
CARBON DATING IS NOT USED ON ROCKS!!!
Carbon dating is used on recent things from the last 50,000 years or so. Early civilizations and such because the half life of C 14 is only 5730 years.
Rocks like meteorites can be over 4 billion years old. The oldest rocks on Earth are about 3.8-3.9 billion years old. Radiometric dating of Uranium-Lead, Argon-Argon, and Potassium-Argon isotope systems are used to date rocks.
The half life of the U 238 system is 4.5 billion years. The half life of the U 235 system is 713 million years.
2007-11-30 03:30:25 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most rocks contain some uranium. Uranium breaks done into lead at a certain rate. By determining the Uranium to lead ratio the age of the rock can be determined.
Carbon dating is for once living things
2007-11-30 04:23:54 · answer #2 · answered by science teacher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Carbon dating maybe? A process where they measure the amount of carbon and they can tell the age of that and get a pretty good guess on how old stuff is. Dont know if that goes for rocks though. Im sure the shape/color/etc of the rock matter, too.
2007-11-30 03:27:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
They are able to date the rock based on Carbon Dating.
They can measure the decay of the carbon and determine the date.
2007-11-30 03:28:38 · answer #4 · answered by RT 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Carbon dating
2007-11-30 03:28:00 · answer #5 · answered by peggy m 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
From what I see in TV, They can date how much carbon is in the rock. But I dodn't know exactly how that works.
2007-11-30 03:28:49 · answer #6 · answered by Fuzzy Squirrel 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
the scientist do a process called collecting core sample.
they analyze the humus content and the amout of thickness of the topsoil.......................by knowing d rate of erosion , they can conclude hw old they r
2007-11-30 03:28:19 · answer #7 · answered by srini 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Carbon dating, I guess.
2007-11-30 03:28:01 · answer #8 · answered by Miss De Vill 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋