Volcanic rock dating

Volcanic rock dating involves measuring radioactive elements within rock to determine its age. When a volcano erupts, it solidifies quickly, trapping radioactive isotopes like uranium or potassium. Over time, these isotopes decay at a predictable rate into stable daughter isotopes. By analyzing the ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a volcanic rock sample, scientists can calculate how long ago the rock solidified. This method provides an accurate way to determine the age of volcanic eruptions and contributes to understanding Earth's history and geological timelines.