TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

K-AR DATING [1 record]

Record 1 2005-03-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Chronology
  • Nuclear Physics
DEF

Determination of the age of a mineral or rock in years based on the known radioactive decay rate of potassium-40 to argon-40.

OBS

Ordinarily, material to be dated must be older than 1 million years.

Key term(s)
  • k/Ar age method
  • K/Ar dating

French

Domaine(s)
  • Chronologie
  • Physique nucléaire
CONT

La méthode dite potassium-argon pose des problèmes plus redoutables : le potassium 40, isotope radio-actif de période 13.108 années, se décompose de deux manières: a) en calcium 40 [...] b) en argon 40. Il s'agit malheureusement d'un gaz qui s'échappe du réseau. Il est remarquable de constater que les feldspaths, à réseau de charpentes, donnent toujours un âge plus faible que les biotites, à réseau de plans: l'argon s'échappe plus difficilement de ces dernières.

CONT

[...] la méthode potassium-argon (K-Ar) permet de remonter jusqu'à 100 MA [...]

Spanish

Save record 1

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: