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Zircon is used for radiometric dating because it is highly resistant to chemical changes and can withstand weathering and geologic events that other minerals cannot.
This allows zircon crystals to remain chemically stable, preserving their original formation time, making them perfect for dating.
Moreover, zircon contains a high concentration of uranium and thorium, and low concentration of initial lead, making it especially useful for uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating.
Over time, uranium in zircon decays to lead, and by measuring how much lead has been produced, scientists can accurately calculate when the zircon crystal was formed.
The presence of a large number of tiny inclusions, or zirconium silicate crystals, inside zircon allows each one to act as an independent time capsule and locks in the isotopic age of its formation.
Zircon is also very durable and has a robust crystal structure, so it resists metamorphism and remains unchanged by high temperatures and pressures, which further aids in its usefulness in dating geological samples.
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