Isochron diagrams

Isochron diagrams are visual tools used in geology to determine the age of rocks and minerals. They plot the ratios of certain radioactive isotopes (variants of elements) against each other for multiple samples of the same rock type. The data points form a straight line, called an isochron, whose slope indicates the time since the rock or mineral last cooled or crystallized. This method helps scientists accurately date geological events and understand Earth's history without needing to know the original composition of the sample, making it a powerful tool in radiometric dating.