Uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of geological samples is one of the oldest and most refined radiometric dating methods, able to determine ages of about 1 million years to over 4.5 billion years with precision in the 0.1–1% range. The U-Pb dating method relies on two separate decay chains, one of which is the actinium series from 235U to 207Pb, with a half-life of 704 million years. Geologists unearth a sample of zircon that appears to be a closed system. They find 0.714 grams of 207Pb for 1.000 grams of 235U present. Approximately how old is the sample? _______ yrs

Uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of geological samples is one of the oldest and most refined radiometric dating methods, able to determine ages of about 1 million years to over 4.5 billion years with precision in the 0.1–1% range. The U-Pb dating method relies on two separate decay chains, one of which is the actinium series from 235U to 207Pb, with a half-life of 704 million years. Geologists unearth a sample of zircon that appears to be a closed system. They find 0.714 grams of 207Pb for 1.000 grams of 235U present. Approximately how old is the sample? _______ yrs

Modern Physics

3rd Edition

ISBN:9781111794378

Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer

Chapter13: Nuclear Structure

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 59P

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