Question

In the Uranium-Lead Method, the age of a rock is estimated by measuring:

Options

• The amount of argon formed from potassium-40 in the rock

• The amount of strontium formed from rubidium-87 in the rock

• The thickness of annual clay deposits within the rock

• The amount of lead formed from uranium in the rock

Answer 1

By measuring the amount of lead formed from uranium in rocks, the age of the rock can be estimated. The other options describe the daughter products of the Potassium-Argon and Rubidium-Strontium methods, or a physical indicator method.