The results demonstrate that the technique is capable of achieving KAr dates as young as 2000 a with a few centuries accuracy. A precision of ± 1.5% is obtained for samples older than 105 a.

Is K Ar dating absolute?

allows the method to be used to calculate the absolute age of samples older than a few thousand years.

What does potassium-argon dating do?

Potassium-argon dating, method of determining the time of origin of rocks by measuring the ratio of radioactive argon to radioactive potassium in the rock. This dating method is based upon the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to radioactive argon-40 in minerals and rocks; potassium-40 also decays to calcium-40.

Is K Ar dating relative or absolute?

The potassium–argon (K–Ar) geochronological method is one of the oldest absolute dating methods and is based upon the occurrence of a radioactive isotope of potassium (40K), which naturally decays to a stable daughter isotope of argon (radiogenic 40Ar, also known as 40Ar*).

How far back can potassium-argon dating go?

Potassium-argon dating is accurate from 4.3 billion years (the age of the Earth) to about 100,000 years before the present.