Carbon dating only works for objects that are younger than about 50,000 years, and most rocks of interest are older than that. Scientists can determine how long ago an organism died by measuring how much carbon-14 is left relative to the carbon-12.

What method of dating is used for dating rocks?

radiometric dating methods To establish the age of a rock or a fossil, researchers use some type of clock to determine the date it was formed. Geologists commonly use radiometric dating methods, based on the natural radioactive decay of certain elements such as potassium and carbon, as reliable clocks to date ancient events.

How does radioactive dating rocks work?

Radiometric dating, often called radioactive dating, is a technique used to determine the age of materials such as rocks. It is based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its decay products, using known decay rates.