Radiometric dating uses knowledge of isotope decay to calculate the age of samples. Carbon dating is most accurate for samples less than 50,000 years old. Uranium-thorium dating is best for samples less than 1 million years old. Uranium-lead dating is best used for samples 1 million to 4.5 billion years old.
Students have located a fossil in layer D of the sedimentary rock in the image. The rocks in layer C have been dated at 1 million years old. What method of dating would be best for determining the age of the newly discovered fossil?

Carbon dating

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Carbon dating and Uranium-thorium dating would both be appropriate

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Uranium-lead

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Uranium-thorium

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Solution

The correct option is B Uranium-lead
Uranium-lead dating method would be used for fossil in layer D.
According to the data, Radiometric dating is used for samples less than 50000 years old. Uranium-thorium dating for samples less than 1 million years old. Uranium-lead for samples between 1 million to 4.5 billion years old.
As the rocks in layer C has been dated to be 1 million years old. So, the layer D which is below layer C would have to be older than 1 million years. Hence, Uranium-lead dating method would be used for layer D.

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