Potassium-calcium decay system

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Abstract

Potassium has three isotopes (see Potassium); potassium-40 ( 40K) is radioactive and decays to both calcium-40 ( 40Ca) and argon-40 ( 40Ar). The combined half-life of 40K is 1.25 billion years. The branched decay scheme of 40K is shown in Figure P33. It decays by β- decay to 40Ca and to 40Ar by both electron capture and positron decay (see Potassium-argon decay system). Although 89.52% of the decays produce 40Ca, the system is of somewhat limited use due to the large natural abundance of 40Ca (96.9% of calcium, see  Calcium).

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Potassium-calcium decay system
DOI 10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_260
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Description 2 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Encyclopedia of geochemistry
First page 525
Last page 526
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