Early Primate Evolution: Isotopes Commonly used for Radiometric Dating. uranium-238 and potassium-40.

What radioisotopes are used in radioactive dating?

Uranium–lead radiometric dating involves using uranium-235 or uranium-238 to date a substances absolute age. This scheme has been refined to the point that the error margin in dates of rocks can be as low as less than two million years in two-and-a-half billion years.

What is the most common type of radioactive dating?

Potassium-Argon Dating Potassium-Argon Dating Potassium-Argon (K-Ar) dating is the most widely applied technique of radiometric dating. Potassium is a component in many common minerals and can be used to determine the ages of igneous and metamorphic rocks.

What is used for radioactive dating?

The best-known techniques for radioactive dating are radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating and uranium-lead dating.

Which isotope is most commonly used in the radioactive dating of fossils?

U-235 The most common is U-235. U-235 is found in many igneous rocks, soil and sediment. U-235 decays to Pb-207 with a half-life of 704 million years. Due to its long half-life, U-235 is the best isotope for radioactive dating, particularly of older fossils and rocks.