The eruption of a volcano unearths rocks from deep within the Earth's crust. The rocks are estimated to be 9 × 10 ⁹ years old. Which radioactive dating method/methods would give the most accurate age of the fossils?
I. Uranium dating
II. Carbon-14 dating
III. Sodium dating

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Uranium dating is the most accurate method for determining the age of rocks that are millions or billions of years old, such as the ones uncovered by a volcanic eruption. Carbon-14 dating is only useful for dating materials that are a few tens of thousands of years old, while sodium dating is not a commonly used dating method. Therefore, the most accurate choice is Uranium dating.

The Eruption of a Volcano Unearths Rocks from Deep Within