Question

The technique known as potassium-argon dating is used to date old lava flows. The potassium isotope 40K has a 1.28 billion year half-life and is naturally present at very low levels. 40K decays by two routes: 89% undergo beta-minus decay into 40Ca while 11% undergo electron capture to become 40Ar. Argon is a gas, and there is no argon in flowing lava because the gas escapes. Once the lava solidifies, any argon produced in the decay of 40K is trapped inside and cannot escape. A geologist brings you a piece of solidified lava in which you find the 40Ar/40K ratio to be 1.1×10?2. What is the age of the rock?

Answer 1