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This video explains how to perform the absolute dating of a rock using the Uranium - Lead (U/Pb) method. Like any radiochronological method, it is based on the radioactive decay of a parent element into a radiogenic daughter element. The reaction occurs at a given speed determined by the decay constant and the half-life (period). Here, there are 2 couples: Uranium 238 decays into Lead 206 while Uranium 235 decays into Lead 207. This allows us to draw a curve called Concordia which predicts all the theoretical isotopic ratios. However, the samples to be dated are almost never on this curve but form clouds of points through which we draw the Discordia line. The Discordia line intersects the Concordia curve at 2 points: a high point, the oldest, which corresponds to the age of the rock a low point, more recent, which corresponds to the age of the rock transformation (metamorphism). Source: http://m.pourcher.free.fr Recommended levels: 1st year of Ens. Sci, Terminale SPE SVT, BCPST