U-Pb dating

U-Pb dating is a technique used to determine the age of rocks by measuring the amounts of uranium and lead within mineral crystals, primarily zircon. Uranium atoms naturally decay into lead at a known, constant rate over time. By comparing the ratio of uranium to lead, scientists can calculate how long the decay has been occurring, thus determining the rock’s age. This method is highly precise and often used to date ancient geological formations, providing insights into Earth's history and the timing of geological events.