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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1964; v. 1; p. 129-141;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1964.001.01.13
© 1964 Geological Society of London

Part 2: Radiometric Methods with Respect to the Time-Scale

Potassium—argon decay constants and age tables

Alan Gilbert Smith, M.A., PH. D., F.G.S.

Department of Geology, Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge

This paper outlines the physical measurements that determine the potassium–argon decay constants; compares the constants currently in use with those derived from the best physical measurements; and shows the magnitude of error in the time-scale due to different estimates of the constants and to a 5 per cent error in each of the constants. Tables are given which can be used by the non-specialist to relate K–Ar ages directly to the experimentally determined argon/potassium ratios using ‘standard’ constants.