Geochronology in the San Juan Mountains (Advanced)
Summary
This is a mathematically more advanced version of the Ages of Rocks and the Earth activity that introduces students to the mathematics of radiometric dating. Students derive the decay equation for the rubidium-strontium isotopic system, then apply it to date rock samples from the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado and a meteorite assumed to be approximately coeval with the Earth.
Click here to view the full activity on the Kéyah Math Project website.
Click here to view the full activity on the Kéyah Math Project website.
Learning Goals
Objectives
Mathematical Skills
Context for Use
This activity consists of a set of quantitative problem-solving exercises that can be used as an in-class activity or an assignment in any introductory course with a unit on geologic time or geochronology, such as:
-Physical geology or physical geography
-Historical geology or Earth history
-Earth materials, mineralogy, or petrology
-Physical geology or physical geography
-Historical geology or Earth history
-Earth materials, mineralogy, or petrology
Description and Teaching Materials
Teaching Notes and Tips
An Instructor's Guide to all Kéyah Math activities is available online from the Instructor Resources page on the Kéyah Math website.
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Assessment
Students record their work and answers in a word-processor document or a notebook, which can be submitted to the instructor for assessment. Solutions to these problems are available online from the Instructor Resources page on the Kéyah Math website.
References and Resources
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