Potassium-argon dating, method of determining the time of origin of rocks by measuring the ratio of radioactive argon to radioactive potassium in the rock. This dating method is based upon the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to radioactive argon-40 in minerals and rocks; potassium-40 also decays to calcium-40.Potassium-argon dating, method of determining the time of origin of rocks by measuring the ratio of radioactive argon to radioactive potassium in the rock. This dating method is based upon the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to radioactive argon-40 in minerals and rocks

Where is K-Ar dating?

The potassium-argon dating method has been used to measure a wide variety of ages. The potassium-argon age of some meteorites is as old as 4,500,000,000 years, and volcanic rocks as young as 20,000 years old have been measured by this method.

Why is the potassium argon dating such a great technique for dating rocks?

This dating method is based upon the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to radioactive argon-40 in minerals and rocks; potassium-40 also decays to calcium-40. On the other hand, the abundance of argon in the Earth is relatively small because of its escape to the atmosphere during processes associated with volcanism.

Who invented K-Ar dating?

During the early 1970s, McDougall, supported by technical help provided by Zarko Roksandic, developed the Ar/Ar method of dating rocks, utilizing the MS10 followed by Page 3 the VG1200 for the isotopic analysis of the extracted argon, after irradiation in the HIFAR nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights, south of Sydney in

Why K-AR Cannot date younger rock?

Limitations of K-Ar dating Still, as a general rule, the proportional error in K-Ar dating will be greatest in the youngest rocks. Because argon is inert, it cannot be chemically incorporated in the minerals when they are formed, but it can be physically trapped in the rocks either during or after formation.