potassium-argon dating

potassium-argon dating
A method of estimating the age of igneous rocks or of archaeological objects by measuring the amount of argon that has built up through the radioactive decay of potassium.

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  • Potassium-argon dating — or K Ar dating is a radiometric dating method used in geochronology and archeology. It is based on measuring the products of the radioactive decay of potassium (K), which is a common element found in materials such as micas, clay minerals, tephra …   Wikipedia

  • potassium-argon dating — [pō tas΄ē əmär′gän΄, pə tas΄ē əm är′gän΄] n. an indirect method of dating fossils, esp. those in very ancient volcanic rock, by using potassic minerals in the same strata as a reference: a natural radioactive isotope of potassium, K 40, decays… …   English World dictionary

  • potassium-argon dating — /peuh tas ee euhm ahr gon/, Geol. a method for estimating the age of a mineral or rock, based on measurement of the rate of decay of radioactive potassium into argon. [1965 70] * * * Method for determining the age of igneous rocks based on the… …   Universalium

  • potassium-argon dating — noun geological dating that relies on the proportions of radioactive potassium in a rock sample and its decay product, argon • Hypernyms: ↑dating, ↑geological dating * * * /peuh tas ee euhm ahr gon/, Geol. a method for estimating the age of a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • potassium-argon dating — /pəˌtæsiəm ˈagɒn deɪtɪŋ/ (say puh.taseeuhm ahgon dayting) noun a method of dating rocks which depends on the ratio of potassium 40 to radiogenic argon 40 which they contain …  

  • potassium-argon dating — potas′sium ar′gon dat ing n. gel a method for estimating the age of a mineral or rock, based on measurement of the rate of decay of radioactive potassium into argon • Etymology: 1965–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • potassium - argon dating — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Argon–argon dating — Argon argon (or 40Ar/39Ar) dating is a radiometric dating method invented to supersede potassium argon (K Ar) dating in accuracy. In this technique, the decay of 40K to 40Ar* (* indicates radiogenic) is used to date geological events,… …   Wikipedia

  • potassium-argon — adjective Date: 1953 being or relating to a method of dating paleontological or geological materials based on the radioactive decay of potassium to argon that has taken place in a specimen …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • potassium-argon — po·tas·si·um ar·gon (pə tăs ē əm ärʹgŏn ) adj. Of, relating to, or being a geologic dating method relying on the percentage of potassium in a specimen that has radioactively decayed to argon. * * * …   Universalium

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