Absolute dating is used to determine a precise age of a rock or fossil through radiometric dating methods. This uses radioactive minerals that occur in rocks and fossils almost like a geological clock. Its often much easier to date volcanic rocks than the fossils themselves or the sedimentary rocks they are found in.Absolute dating

What are ways to date the fossil record?

The Dating GameIts All Relative. One way of dating fossils relies on their relative positions in the ground. Sedimentary Sleuths. When fossils are buried one on top of another, it is easy to arrange them in chronological order. Clocks In Rocks. Radiocarbon Dating. On The Level. Ash Analysis.

How do we date dinosaur fossils?

Todays knowledge of fossil ages comes primarily from radiometric dating, also known as radioactive dating. Radiometric dating relies on the properties of isotopes. These are chemical elements, like carbon or uranium, that are identical except for one key feature -- the number of neutrons in their nucleus.