Isochron dating is a common technique of radiometric dating and is applied to date certain events, such as crystallization, metamorphism, shock events, and differentiation of precursor melts, in the history of rocks. Indeed, the initial amount of the daughter product can be determined using isochron dating.
What is the isochron equation?
This equation has the form y = b + xm, which is that of a straight line on x–y coordinates. The slope m is equal to (eλt − 1), and the intercept is equal to (D/S)0. This term is called the initial ratio.
What is Isochron?
: an imaginary line or a line on a chart connecting points at which an event occurs simultaneously or which represents the same time or time difference.
What is Isochron in geology?
/ (ˈaɪsəʊˌkrɒn) / noun. a line on an isotope ratio diagram denoting a suite of rock or mineral samples all formed at the same time. The slope of the line is related to the age of the rock or mineral suite.
isochron A line joining points of equal time intervals or ages. In geochronology the slope of the isochron may be used to determine the age of a suite of rocks.
Why is zircon the preferred mineral for obtaining U Pb dates?
Zircon has a high hardness (7.5) which makes it resistant to mechanical weathering, and it is also very resistant to chemical weathering. Zircon can also survive metamorphism. Chemically, zircon usually contains high amounts of U and low amounts of Pb, so that large amounts of radiogenic Pb are produced.
Can minerals be dated?
Either a whole rock or a single mineral grain can be dated. Some techniques place the sample in a nuclear reactor first to excite the isotopes present, then measure these isotopes using a mass spectrometer (such as in the argon-argon scheme).