Dating Methodology and its Associated Assumptions

I once had a good bookmark on this, but I can't now find it.In short, the KBS Tuff was a difficult one to get a proper date on. Only because of the importance of its stratagraphic position relative to the hominid fossil was it even tried.The tuff was water laid, with lots of contamination from older rock. Thus, when they first dated it, they got a too old date.By carefully physically separating the contamination from the actual tuff material, they were they able to get to get a quality date.MooseAdded by edit: I should have done a search before posting the above. There is another topic (Potassium Argon Dating doesnt work at all) of which the KBS Tuff was a central theme, right from message 1. The above was from my frequently shakey memory. See the cited topic for (maybe) more and better information. Maybe even that "missing link" might be in there.OK, further search has found the link:
Radiometric Dating and the Geological Time Scale
Circular Reasoning or Reliable Tools?
What I think is one the single best introduction to geology pages I have ever found.This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 09-25-2004 08:54 PM

quote:

---

Rocks in my study area were dated some 20 to 30 years ago...

---

Dated to be 20 to 30 (million?) years old? Or was the dating done 20 to 30 years ago?My guess is that you need an edit and/or clarification there.No reply needed.MooseThis message has been edited by minnemooseus, 10-28-2004 11:43 PM

---

Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U
Evolution - Changes in the environment, caused by the interactions of the components of the environment.
"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer." - Bruce Graham

I haven't followed this topic close enough to have a clue of what the tar pits have to do with this topic.Now, consulting my geological dictionary, the volcanics definition of "traps": So, "traps" is just a geomorphological discription of basaltic volcanics.Moose