Some minerals in rocks and organic matter (e.g., wood, bones, and shells) can contain radioactive isotopes. The abundances of parent and daughter isotopes in a sample can be measured and used to ...

Minerals are typically formed when molten rock, or magma, cools, or by separating out of mineral-rich water, such as that in underground caverns. In general, mineral particles are small ...

These minerals are often particularly sensitive when exposed to ultraviolet (UV), blue light or inappropriate relative humidity. 'Many people think that because rocks are usually hard and have lasted ...