369 Views

What are the different fossil dating methods ?


Unknown Student 24th Mar, 2020
Answers (2)
Leon George 24th Mar, 2020

Hello Aspirant,

Basically there are two dating methods

  • Absolute Dating- used to determine a precise age of a rock or fossil through radiometric dating  methods. This uses radioactive minerals that occur in rocks and fossils almost like a geological clock. It’s often much easier to date volcanic rocks than the fossils themselves or the sedimentary rocks they are found in.
  • Relative Dating- Most of the time this fossil dating technique  is used to determine the used age. Using relative dating the fossil is compared to something for which an age is already known.

I hope it helps

Thank you

Pratyay Islam 24th Mar, 2020

Hello Student ,

Dating Of Fossil Rocks: Fossil Can be dated by two methods mainly -

  • Relative Dating
  • Absolute Dating

Absolute Dating is of two main types

Radioactive Method - It can be done in three ways.In this method the stable form of radioactive element after decay can be used to figure out the age of fossil. Half-Life has to be known.

  1. Radioactive Uranium Method - Half-Life period of the uranium is 4.5 billion years
  2. Potassium Argon Method - Half-Life period of this radioactive isotope 1.3 billion years.
  3. Radioactive Carbon Method - Half-Life period of this carbon is 5750 years


Electron Spin Resonance - Most advanced method. Accumulation of trapped electrons in minerals.More the trapped electron present, the older the sample.


Related Questions

Amity University | B.Sc Admis...
Apply
Ranked amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
Woxsen University B.Sc. Admis...
Apply
Build Your Own Degree - Choose any 3 out of 8 Electives | 100% Plcament track | 100+ Global Partners | 200+ Industry Interactions
Symbiosis School for Liberal ...
Apply
Admissions open for BA/BSc. Liberal Arts (Honours) & BA / BSc. Liberal Arts (Honors) with Research
UPES B.Sc Admissions 2025
Apply
Ranked #46 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
KL University B.Sc Admissions...
Apply
A++ Grade by NAAC | Recognized as Category-1 University by UGC | 100% Placement, 60 LPA Highest CTC, 400+ Recruiters
Alliance University B.Sc. Adm...
Apply
Highest CTC 60.1 LPA | 800+ Recruitment Partners
View All Application Forms

Download the Careers360 App on your Android phone

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

150M+ Students
30,000+ Colleges
500+ Exams
1500+ E-books