Geochronology is a scientific field that focuses on determining the age and history of Earth’s rocks and rock assemblages. It involves studying rock strata distribution, the succession of layers, and the characteristics of preserved fossil organisms to decipher past geologic events.
Investigators can determine the relative ages of sedimentary rock strata based on their position in an outcrop and fossil content. Radiometric dating, a method of age determination, uses the principle that radioactive atoms in geologic materials decay at constant rates to daughter atoms. Isotope geology complements geochronology, tracing isotopes produced by radioactive decay through geologic processes, providing insights into these processes.