Radioactive crystals help identify and date ore deposits
Radioactive crystals help identify and date ore deposits
Reddish-brown crystals of a radioactive mineral called monazite can act as
microscopic clocks that allow geologists to date rock formations that have been
altered by the action of high-temperature fluids, a process that frequently
leads to the formation of rich ore deposits.
That is the conclusion of a study performed by a team of geologists headed
by John C. Ayers, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt
University, published in the August 1 issue of the journal Geology.
Full story here:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/stories/monazite.html