Scientists typically determine the age of a rock or meteorite by using the isochron method. For purposes of illustration, consider the rubidium-strontium decay system. In this illustration, the minerals within a single rock are used to date it, and the line on the graph is called an internal isochron.

How do meteorite products affect the age dating techniques?

Thermal processes that may occur during meteorite impact in the lifetime of the specimen can reset some of the atomic clocks, mixing components and releasing important gases such as 129Xe and 40Ar. In practice, several isotope systems and several samples are used to determine the ages.