D. Zircon (ZrSiO,) forms in magma and lava as it cools into igneous rock. It is also useful for absolute age dating (Figure 8.10). 1. If you walk on a modern New Jersey beach, then you will walk on some zircon sand grains. Yet if you determine the absolute age of the zircons, it does not indicate a modern age (zero years) for the beach. Why? 2. Suggest a rule that geologists should follow when they date rocks according to radiometric ages of crystals inside the rocks.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
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D. Zircon (ZrSiO,) forms in magma and lava as it cools into igneous rock. It is also useful for absolute age dating
(Figure 8.10).
1. If you walk on a modern New Jersey beach, then you will walk on some zircon sand grains. Yet if you determine the
absolute age of the zircons, it does not indicate a modern age (zero years) for the beach. Why?
2. Suggest a rule that geologists should follow when they date rocks according to radiometric ages of crystals inside the rocks.
Transcribed Image Text:D. Zircon (ZrSiO,) forms in magma and lava as it cools into igneous rock. It is also useful for absolute age dating (Figure 8.10). 1. If you walk on a modern New Jersey beach, then you will walk on some zircon sand grains. Yet if you determine the absolute age of the zircons, it does not indicate a modern age (zero years) for the beach. Why? 2. Suggest a rule that geologists should follow when they date rocks according to radiometric ages of crystals inside the rocks.
SOME ISOTOPES USED FOR RADIOMETRIC DATING
Daughter
Isotope (D)
Half-Lives (T½)
Useful Dating Range
Parent
Isotope (P)
Materials Dated
Newly formed
crystal
Uranium-238
4.5 billion years Zircon
713 million years Zircon
Lead-206
ages > 10 m.y.
100
Uranium-235
Lead-207
ages > 10 m.y.
0000000o
o00000
15.9%
decayed to
daughter
Potassium-40 Argon-40
Biotite, muscovite,
whole volcanic rock
1.3 billion years
ages > 50,000 yr
Shells, limestone,
organic materials
ages 100-60,000 yr
Carbon-14
Nitrogen-14
5730 years
84.1
29.3%
decayed
70.7
Parent
Atoms (P)
000000000e
50%
decayed
RADIOACTIVE
DECAY
50.0
Daughter
Atoms (D)
25.0
75% decayed
87.5%
decayed
12.5
93.8%
decayed
96.9%
decayed
6.2
3.1
14
2
3
4
5
6
Half-Lives (T1) Elapsed
DECAY PARAMETERS FOR ALL RADIOACTIVE DECAY PAIRS
Percent of
Parent
Atoms (P)
Percent of
Daughter
Atoms (D)
Half-Lives
Elapsed
Age
0.000 x T
0.015 x T
0.031 x Ty
0.062 x Ty
0.125 x T
0.250 x T
0.500 x T2
1.000 x Ty2
100.0
0.0
98.9
1.1
1/64
97.9
2.1
1/32
95.8
4.2
1/16
91.7
8.3
1/8
84.1
15.9
1/4
70.7
29.3
1/2
50.0
50.0
1
1'½
1.500 x T,
2.000 x T
3.000 x T
4.000 x Ty
5.000 x Ty2
35.4
64.6
25.0
75.0
2
12.5
87.5
3
6.2
93.8
4
3.1
96.9
Percent of Parent (P) Atoms Remaining
Transcribed Image Text:SOME ISOTOPES USED FOR RADIOMETRIC DATING Daughter Isotope (D) Half-Lives (T½) Useful Dating Range Parent Isotope (P) Materials Dated Newly formed crystal Uranium-238 4.5 billion years Zircon 713 million years Zircon Lead-206 ages > 10 m.y. 100 Uranium-235 Lead-207 ages > 10 m.y. 0000000o o00000 15.9% decayed to daughter Potassium-40 Argon-40 Biotite, muscovite, whole volcanic rock 1.3 billion years ages > 50,000 yr Shells, limestone, organic materials ages 100-60,000 yr Carbon-14 Nitrogen-14 5730 years 84.1 29.3% decayed 70.7 Parent Atoms (P) 000000000e 50% decayed RADIOACTIVE DECAY 50.0 Daughter Atoms (D) 25.0 75% decayed 87.5% decayed 12.5 93.8% decayed 96.9% decayed 6.2 3.1 14 2 3 4 5 6 Half-Lives (T1) Elapsed DECAY PARAMETERS FOR ALL RADIOACTIVE DECAY PAIRS Percent of Parent Atoms (P) Percent of Daughter Atoms (D) Half-Lives Elapsed Age 0.000 x T 0.015 x T 0.031 x Ty 0.062 x Ty 0.125 x T 0.250 x T 0.500 x T2 1.000 x Ty2 100.0 0.0 98.9 1.1 1/64 97.9 2.1 1/32 95.8 4.2 1/16 91.7 8.3 1/8 84.1 15.9 1/4 70.7 29.3 1/2 50.0 50.0 1 1'½ 1.500 x T, 2.000 x T 3.000 x T 4.000 x Ty 5.000 x Ty2 35.4 64.6 25.0 75.0 2 12.5 87.5 3 6.2 93.8 4 3.1 96.9 Percent of Parent (P) Atoms Remaining
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