What method is used for determining the absolute age of geological materials by examining radioactive isotopes?

The method used for determining the absolute age of geological materials by examining radioactive isotopes is radiometric dating. This technique relies on the principles of radioactive decay, where unstable isotopes transform into stable isotopes at a predictable rate over time, characterized as the isotope's half-life. By measuring the ratio of the parent (radioactive) isotope to the daughter (stable) isotope in a sample, scientists can calculate how long the decay process has been occurring and thus establish the age of the geological material.

This method is essential for providing precise age estimates for a variety of substances, including rocks, fossils, and minerals. It advances our understanding of geological time and the sequencing of events in Earth’s history. Other dating methods, such as relative dating, compare the age of different layers of rocks without providing a specific numerical age. Dendrochronology focuses on counting tree rings to determine the age of trees and the climatic conditions during their growth. Catastrophism is a geological doctrine that suggests Earth's features are shaped by sudden, short-lived events rather than gradual processes, rather than providing methods for dating geological materials.