Answer to Question #104791 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Ahmed

Question

It is possible to date radiometrically rocks and minerals that contain naturally radioactive elements. They are the basis for quantifying the timing and duration of geologic events and have produced an entire new subdiscipline of geology.What quantities can we measure?

Answer 1

That subdiscipline of geology is called radiometric dating.

The quantity that we can measure is called a rate of radioactive decay because that is a constant value. It is measured in half-lives, which allows obtaining the absolute dating of the rock.

The best mineral for such measurements is an igneous rock.