Abstract
Except for Quaternary times, the major dating methods for geology and petrology are based on parent/daughter isotope ratios. The most important of these methods for dating igneous and metamorphic rocks and their minerals are the K/Ar (Sect. 6.1.1), Rb/Sr (Sect. 6.1.3), U/Th/Pb (Sect. 6.1.9), and Sm/Nd (Sect. 6.1.6) methods. For example, only with these methods can time relationships be determined for the Precambrian. This is also true for younger basement rocks, for instance, for deciphering the development of an orogen, especially where there are no associated sediments that can be dated by other means.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Geyh, M.A., Schleicher, H. (1990). Radiometric Dating Methods. In: Absolute Age Determination. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74826-4_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74826-4_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51276-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-74826-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive