The oldest rock formation identified on Earth is found on the shoreline of Hudson Bay in Canada. This rock formed 4.28 billion years ago. What information does a scientist need to more accurately determine the age of a rock? (1 point)

Question

• The amount of each radioactive element present in the rock.
• The percentage of each mineral that makes up the rock.
• The thickness of younger rock layers that cover the rock.
• The amount of weathering present on the surface of the rock.

Answer 1

To more accurately determine the age of a rock, a scientist would need:

• The amount of each radioactive element present in the rock.

This information is crucial for radiometric dating, which allows scientists to calculate the age of the rock based on the decay rates of radioactive isotopes contained within it.