Chlorine-36 dating

What is Chlorine-36 dating?

Chlorine-36 dating is a radiometric dating technique used to determine the age of rocks and minerals that have been exposed to cosmic radiation. It is based on the decay of the radioactive isotope chlorine-36, which has a half-life of about 301,000 years. Chlorine-36 is produced when cosmic rays interact with the Earth's atmosphere, and it can be incorporated into minerals through precipitation or absorption.

By measuring the amount of chlorine-36 in a sample and comparing it to the amount of stable chlorine isotopes, scientists can calculate how long the sample has been exposed to cosmic radiation. This method can be used to date materials that are up to several million years old.

Chlorine-36 dating is particularly useful for studying the history of climate change, as it can be used to date glacial deposits and other materials that have been affected by changes in the Earth's climate. It can also be used to date groundwater and other materials that have been in contact with the atmosphere for extended periods of time.