Definition
Radiogenic nuclides (more commonly referred to as “radiogenic isotopes”) are produced by a process of radioactive decay. Radioactive decay means that unstable isotopes (mother nuclides) are spontaneously transferred into stable isotopes (daughter nuclides) by emission of particles and loss of energy (radioactive radiation).
Introduction
The radioactive decay provides an accurate method of measuring the ages of rocks and minerals. This possibility was recognized both by Rutherford (1906) and Boltwood (1907) at the beginning of the twentieth century. However, the measurement and interpretation of variations in the isotopic composition of certain elements in natural materials were not possible until modern mass spectrometers were developed based on the design by Nier (1940). After the World War II, isotope determinations became an important tool in modern geology, geochemistry, and geobiology not only for dating geological processes, but also for investigations of climate...
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Hansen, B.T. (2011). Isotopes, Radiogenic. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_124
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