The ages of Earth and Moon rocks and of meteorites are measured by the decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes of elements that occur naturally in rocks and minerals and that decay with half lives of 700 million to more than 100 billion years to stable isotopes of other elements.

How old are meteorites expected to be?

4.56 billion years old Meteorites range in age. The oldest particles in a meteorite, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites, have been dated at 4.56 billion years old. Meteorites that originate from asteroids are all ~4.5 billion years old.

How rocks are dated?

To establish the age of a rock or a fossil, researchers use some type of clock to determine the date it was formed. Geologists commonly use radiometric dating methods, based on the natural radioactive decay of certain elements such as potassium and carbon, as reliable clocks to date ancient events.

Why are meteorites a reliable way to date the Earth?

Simple enough, see the meteorites formed alongside the planet, however, since the planet was pretty much a molten soup you cant date it properly, because we can only date it after it cooled down. Meaning that the meteorites hold a much more accurate time-frame since they were not melted down to form our crust!

Is the Earth 4.6 billion years old?

Earth is estimated to be 4.54 billion years old, plus or minus about 50 million years. Scientists have scoured the Earth searching for the oldest rocks to radiometrically date. In northwestern Canada, they discovered rocks about 4.03 billion years old.

Where would you be most likely to find the oldest rocks on Earth?

Thats right, geologists, Canada is home to the worlds oldest discovered rocks! When the Earth was formed about 4.6 billion years ago, the molten rock on the surface hardened to form a solid crust.

Are all meteorites radioactive?

Are meteorites radioactive? No. Meteorites do contain radioactive elements, but not significantly more than any ordinary terrestrial rock.

When was the last time a meteorite hit Earth?

66 million years ago The last known impact of an object of 10 km (6 mi) or more in diameter was at the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago. The energy released by an impactor depends on diameter, density, velocity, and angle.

Where is the youngest rock found?

mid-ocean ridges Scientists found that the youngest rocks are located at the mid-ocean ridges and the older rock is found far from mid-ocean ridges. This finding provided support for the Theory of Plate Tectonics.