Final answer:
Fission-Track Dating is a method of absolute dating used in geology to determine the age of rocks and minerals based on the density of tracks left by the spontaneous fission of uranium-238 within them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fission-Track Dating is a method of absolute dating used in geology to determine the age of rocks and minerals based on the density of tracks left by the spontaneous fission of uranium-238 within them.
When uranium-238 undergoes fission, it releases charged particles that create damage tracks in the mineral. By counting the number of tracks and knowing the rate at which uranium-238 decays, scientists can estimate the age of the sample.
For example, if a mineral sample contains a high number of tracks, it indicates that it has been exposed to radiation for a longer period of time and would be older.
Conversely, a low number of tracks would indicate a younger age.
Fission-Track Dating is commonly used to date volcanic rocks and minerals such as zircon and apatite. It is particularly useful for dating materials that are between 1 million and 1 billion years old.
What is meant by Fission-Track Dating (Absolute Dating)?