A paleontologist discovers a stromatolite and suspects that its older layers may contain fossils more than 3 billion years old.Which method will likely produce the best estimate of its age?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Radiometric uranium-235 dating of nearby igneous rocks would provide the best estimate of the age of the stromatolite. This method measures the decay of uranium-235 into lead-207 and can be used to date the igneous rocks formed from volcanic activity that occurred around the time the stromatolite was formed. This would provide a more precise estimate of the age of the stromatolite's layers compared to other methods.

A Paleontologist Discovers a Stromatolite and Suspects That Its Older