The best-known techniques for radioactive dating are radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating and uranium-lead dating. After one half-life has elapsed, one half of the atoms of the nuclide in question will have decayed into a “daughter” nuclide.The best-known techniques for radioactive dating are radiocarbon dating, potassium-argon dating and uranium-lead dating. After one half-life has elapsed, one half of the atoms of the nuclide

How are radiometric dates calculated?

D = D0 + D* Therefore, D = D0 + N (e λ t – 1) or, for small λ t, D = D0 + N λ t , This is the basic radioactive decay equation used for determining ages of rocks, minerals and the isotopes themselves. D and N can be measured and λ has been experimentally determined for nearly all known unstable nuclides.