What is the rate of decay of dinosaur bones?

Question

I need to know the rate at which dinosaur bones roughly decay. I need it for a half-life/radioactive decay equation.

If you just have any answer related to this topic it would be helpful. Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

The fossil of a dinosaur bone is not the same as the bone itself. In a fossil, the original material has long since leached away and been replaced by minerals forming a stone replica.

If any of the original dinosaur bone material remains, it wouldn’t decay. It would be merely calcium, a hard mineral resembling the fossilized portion.

A note: Radiometric dating is excellent but CARBON radiometric dating is accurate only back to about 60,000 years. Since dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago, the isotopes of other elements are used.

Answer 2

Bones are in sediment that is not subject to radiometric dating. The rock types that are subject to radiometric dating, like igneous, do not hold fossils.

I assume dino bones would have quite varying degrees of decay. Hopefully some palaeontologist will come along to answer this.

Answer 3

You might want to research carbon dating.

Answer 4

Unlike radioactive isotopes that have a fixed decay rate, dinosaur bones do not decay at any fixed rate.  Their rate of decay is determined by external forces that are not predictable.