New research has revealed that some events in Earth's history happened more recently than previously thought. Scientists from the British Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, publishing this week in the journal Science, have refined the data used to determine how much time has passed since a mineral or rock was formed. They report uranium isotopic composition of minerals, used to date major geological events, which are more accurate than previously published. The major effect of this is to reduce previous age determinations by up to 700,000 years.
Minerals naturally capture uranium when they form, which in turn undergoes a chain of radioactive decays to other elements, ending with lead. This new research has shown that, by more accurately measuring the relative amount of the uranium isotopes 238U and 235U, we now have a better understanding of how much time has passed since a mineral or rock has formed.
A major effect of this work will be to decrease all previous uranium-lead (U-Pb) age determinations, by up to 700,000 years for samples that are about 4.5 billion years old – the age of the Earth. In particular, the new 238U/235U ratio will allow geologists to place more accurate limits on the exact timing of a broad range of geological processes, from the initial formation of our planet, continents and economic mineral deposits, to past evolutionary events and climate change.
Blair Schoene, a geologist from Princeton University said "This new determination will not only improve the accuracy of each U-Pb age but ultimately our understanding of events in Earth history."
For over 35 years, a 238U/235U ratio of 137.88 has been used to calculate U-Pb dates, from the oldest rocks that formed four billion years ago, to much younger rocks that are hundreds of thousands of years old. When scientists recently evaluated the measurements used to arrive at the 137.88 value, they came to a dead end: the value could not be traced back to standard units such as the kilogram. This new study shows that many naturally occurring uranium-rich minerals, such as zircon, actually have a lower 238U/235U value with an average of 137.818 ± 0.045 (the uncertainty assigned to this value relates to the variation observed between different samples). Agreement between these results, other rocks, and meteorites indicate the new average 238U/235U value and uncertainty may also be representative of the Earth's 'bulk' uranium isotopic composition.
Glossary:
Isotopes – Variations in the atomic mass of a particular element.
Radioactive decay – Process whereby an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation.
Standard units – Modern form of the metric system e.g. the metre or second.
Zircon – A mineral with the chemical formula ZrSiO4 that is commonly used to date rocks.
'Bulk' Earth – Combined chemical composition of our planet's crust, mantle and core.
For further details or to arrange media interviews please contact:
Sarah Nice
BGS Press Office, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG
Office: 44-115-936-3605
Mobile: 44-7989-115-657
Email: sebr@bgs.ac.uk
Clive Mitchell
BGS Press Office, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA
Office: 44-115-936-3257
Mobile: 44-7815-537-439
E-mail: cjmi@bgs.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
The following are available for interview:
- Dr. Joe Hiess, British Geological Survey
- Dr. Stephen Noble, British Geological Survey
- Dr. Daniel Condon, British Geological Survey
For additional information go to: http://www.bgs.ac.uk
Photographs are available from our ftp server: ftp://ftp.bgs.ac.uk/pubload/bgspress/Uranium-lead%20dating/
Free for non-commercial and media use as long as this acknowledgement is used:
Courtesy of the British Geological Survey (BGS©NERC)
The British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey (BGS), a component body of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making for governmental, commercial and individual users. The BGS maintains and develops the nation's understanding of its geology to improve policy making, enhance national wealth and reduce risk. It also collaborates with the national and international scientific community in carrying out research in strategic areas, including energy and natural resources, our vulnerability to environmental change and hazards, and our general knowledge of the Earth system. More about the BGS can be found at http://www.bgs.ac.uk.
Journal
Science