- 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.
Wikipedia foundation.
potassium-argon dating
Look at other dictionaries:
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
