Sm-Nd Radiometric Dating
Samarium has five naturally occurring isotopes and neodymium has seven.
The two elements are joined in a parent-daughter relationship by the alpha-decay of 147Sm to 143Nd with a half life of 1.06×1011 years.
146Sm is an almost-extinct nuclide which decays via alpha emission to produce 142Nd, with a half-life of 1.08×108 years.
146Sm is itself produced by the decay of 150Gd via alpha-decay with a half-life of 1.79×106 years.
An isochron is calculated normally. As with Rb-Sr and Pb-Pb isotope geochemistry, the initial 143Nd/144Nd ratio of the isotope system provides important information on crustal formation and the isotopic evolution of the solar system.
Read more about this topic: Samarium-neodymium Dating
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