Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. The universe is full of naturally occurring radioactive elements. Radioactive atoms are inherently unstable; over time, radioactive parent atoms decay into stable daughter atoms.Geologists use radiometric dating to estimate how long ago rocks formed, and to infer the ages of fossils contained within those rocks. The universe is full of naturally occurring radioactive elements

What is an example of radiometric dating?

Examples of Radiometric Dating. Uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating: Radioactive uranium comes in two forms, uranium-238 and uranium-235. The number refers to the number of protons plus neutrons. The half-life of uranium-238 is 4.47 billion years, while that of uranium-235 is 704 million years.

Why do we use radiometric dating?

To determine the ages in years of Earth materials and the timing of geologic events such as exhumation and subduction, geologists utilize the process of radiometric decay. Geologists use these dates to further define the boundaries of the geologic periods shown on the geologic time scale.