Concept

Potassium-Argon

Potassium-Argon (40K/40Ar) has a rate of decay of 1.25 billion years. Potassium is a radioactive isotope that decays into Argon. This method is useful for dating vocanic eruptions as heating during eruption removes all argon gas. As the material cools, the "clock" resets because there is no argon remaining and potassium stays in the system.

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Updated 2022-11-11

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Anthropology

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