Why is radiocarbon dating rarely applied in geological work?
A) No substances on the Earth contain significant amounts of carbon-14.
B) The half-life of carbon-14 is so long that it is effectively a stable isotope.
C) The half-life of carbon-14 is so short that it can only be used to date materials that are less than 70,000 years old.
D) Carbon-14 is destroyed by the heat of magma.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life of carbon-14 is only 5,700 years; therefore, it can only be used to date materials that are less than 70,000 years old. As a result, it is rarely applied in geological work, which typically deals with much older materials.

Why Is Radiocarbon Dating Rarely Applied in Geological Work