neodymium-143

chemical isotope

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July 1, 2026

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Neodymium-143 is a specific isotope of the chemical element neodymium. Neodymium is a rare-earth metal that is ductile and malleable, with a silvery-white appearance. It readily oxidizes in air.1

Natural neodymium is a mixture of seven isotopes, five of which are stable. Neodymium-143 is one of these stable isotopes, making up 12.18 percent of natural neodymium. The samarium-neodymium dating method utilizes the radioactive decay of samarium-147 into neodymium-143 to determine the ages of certain geological materials. This method is particularly useful because the parent and daughter elements have similar chemical properties, which can reduce diffusion loss.12

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dating
Samarium–neodymium method
…of mass 147 (¹⁴⁷Sm) to neodymium of mass 143 (¹⁴³Nd) has been shown to be capable of providing useful isochron ages for certain geologic materials. Both parent and daughter belong to the rare-earth element group, which is itself the subject of numerous geologic investigations. All members of this group have…
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…of mass 147 (¹⁴⁷Sm) to neodymium of mass 143 (¹⁴³Nd) has been shown to be capable of providing useful isochron ages for certain geologic materials. Both parent and daughter belong to the rare-earth element group, which is itself the subject of numerous geologic investigations. All members of this group have…
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Earth
Accretion of the early Earth
…samarium-147 and its decay product neodymium-143, indicate that the oldest meteorites formed some 4.56 billion years ago. Other isotope studies demonstrate that Earth formed within, at most, a few tens of millions of years after the birth of the Sun.
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…samarium-147 and its decay product neodymium-143, indicate that the oldest meteorites formed some 4.56 billion years ago. Other isotope studies demonstrate that Earth formed within, at most, a few tens of millions of years after the birth of the Sun.
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