Dating methods potassium/argon

From the radioactive decay constants and measurement of the amount of argon in a rock sample, the length of time since formation of the rock can be estimated. Essentially, the dating method requires fusion of a rock sample under high vacuum to release the argon gas that has collected through radioactive decay of potassium. The amount of argon is determined mass spectrometrically,... 

The Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile, he east of the South American mainland at approximately 33°30 S, 80°W (Fig. 6.8). The archipelago consists of two main islands, Masatierra, which lies about 660 km from the mainland, and Masafuera, which lies 150km further west. A third, small island, Santa Clara, lies off the western end of Masatierra and probably was attached to Masatierra at one time. The ages of the islands have been determined using potassium-argon dating methods to be 5.8 2.1 million years for Santa Clara 4.23 0.16 million years for Masatierra and 2.44 0.14 million years for Masafuera (Stuessy et ah, 1984). 

A popular method used to date rocks is the potassium-argon method. Potassium is abundant in rocks such as feldspars, hornblendes, and micas. The K-Ar method has been used to date the Earth and its geologic formations. It has also been applied to determine magnetic reversals that have taken place throughout the Earth s history. Another method used in geologic dating is the rubidium-strontium, Rb-Sr, method. Some of the oldest rocks on Earth have been dated with this method, providing evidence that the Earth is approximately 5 billion years old. The method has also been used to date moon rocks and meteorites. 

Evernden, J.F., Curtis, G.H., Obradovich, J. and Kistler, R., 1961. On the evaluation of glauconite and illite for dating sedimentary rocks by the potassium-argon method. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 23 78-99. 

Sigurgeirsson, Th. (1962) Dating recent basalt by the potassium argon method. Report of Physical Laboratory of the University of Iceland. (In Icelandic.)... 

The alkali metals are not found free in nature, because they are so easily oxidized. They are most economically produced by electrolysis of their molten salts. Sodium (2.6% abundance by mass) and potassium (2.4% abundance) are very common in the earth s crust. The other lA metals are quite rare. Francium consists only of short-lived radioactive isotopes formed by alpha-particle emission from actinium (Section 26-4). Both potassium and cesium also have natural radioisotopes. Potassium-40 is important in the potassium-argon radioactive decay method of dating ancient objects (Section 26-12). The properties of the alkali metals vary regularly as the group is descended (Table 23-1). 

The potassium-argon and uranium-lead methods are used for dating older objects. Potassium-40 decays to argon-40 with a half-life of 1.3 billion years. 

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