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 potassium-argon dating absolute?

Absolute dating techniques include radiocarbon dating of wood or bones, potassium-argon dating, and trapped-charge dating methods such as thermoluminescence dating of glazed ceramics. C) to systems such as uranium–lead dating that allow determination of absolute ages for some of the oldest rocks on Earth.

Can potassium-argon dating date bones?

Potassium-Argon Dating. Potassium-Argon Dating Potassium-Argon dating is the only viable technique for dating very old archaeological materials. Geologists have used this method to date rocks as much as 4 billion years old.

Is K Ar dating absolute or relative?

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*).