Assignment 4 Geochemistry (Semester Genap 18/19)

Material: Radioactivity
Format: hard copy on A4 paper
Due date: + 1 WEEK

Q1. (30 points)

a. Define the difference between unstable and stable isotope.
b. Mention 1 application each of unstable and stable isotope.
c. Explain 3 decay type and write down the reaction for each decay type.
d. Define parent and daughter nuclides. Draw the graph if necessary.
e. Explain briefly why carbon dating has limited application in rock-dating.
f. Explain 2 decay systems that you know and the application on rock-dating.

Q2. (15 points)

Hint: see periodic table to help with your answer.
a. Plutonium-239 decays via alpha decay. Write out the decay equation for Plutonium-239!
%&#
#$𝑃𝑢
b. Scandium-46 decays via the beta-minus process. Write out the decay equation for scadium-
46.
$*
%)𝑆𝑐
c. A certain isotope decays via the beta-plus process to neon-22. Write out the complete decay
equation.
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)-𝑁𝑒

Q3. (15 points)

A rock sample was examine to determine the %age of the parent and daughter nuclide.
a. Fill in the table below
Number of half- 0 1 2 3 4 5
life
% Parent
Nuclide
% Daughter
Nuclide

b. Using the above chart, estimate the percentage of parent and daughter material that
should be present if 5 half-lives have passed. If the length of the half-life is 1 million
years. How old is the rock?
c. What is the age of a basaltic lava flow which has isotopic abundances D=87.5% and
P=12.5% and isotopic half-life of 10 million years?

Q4. (25 points)

Let it be known there were samples measured on phlogopites (P) from a kimberlite obtained in
Canada. Using simple linear regression and based on the table below, determine:
a. The age of the rock
b. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio
Q5 (15 points)
The following data were analysed from lava flow retrieved in Mt. St Helens. Using simple linear
regressions, calculate the age of the rock.

Supplementary