Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » A volcano inside the Fagradals Mountain 20 miles south of Reykjavik, Iceland erupted after lying dormant for 6000 years. Where's the record?
RosieG

A volcano inside the Fagradals Mountain 20 miles south of Reykjavik, Iceland erupted after lying dormant for 6000 years. Where's the record?

Who was it who was alive then and thought to document it for posterity?

The historian?

How do theyKNOW it was six thousands years and not seven or five or eleven?

Posted - March 21, 2021
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Responses


  • 19937
    Good questions.  Perhaps the last time the volcano spewed rock that could be carbon dated to discover its age. This post was edited by SpunkySenior at March 21, 2021 10:02 AM MDT
      March 21, 2021 7:53 AM MDT
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  • 44608
    Zackly.
      March 21, 2021 9:48 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    The rock? The lava? Thank you for your reply L. I wonder when/where carbon dating began and could be verified by testing it against something else? What else? :)
      March 21, 2021 10:03 AM MDT
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  • 19937
    Yes, the rock that the lava produced.  I am not at all expert in carbon dating, how/why it is factual.  
      March 21, 2021 11:00 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I am always amazed at dating things going back millions of years. Against what is the yardstick measured or authenticated? Thank you for your reply L and Happy Monday to you! :)
      March 22, 2021 4:01 AM MDT
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  • 19937
    Since I'm not a scientist, I cannot answer that for you.  :)  Happy Monday to you.  I'm on my way to H&R Block in a little while to see what I owe the government.  He did tell me on the phone that it wasn't as bad as last year, which is a good thing. :)  Maybe it will really be a Happy Monday. :)
      March 22, 2021 10:18 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I sure hope so L! Fingers crossed! Thank you for your reply! :)
      March 22, 2021 2:45 PM MDT
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  • 19937
    It was MUCH better than last year.  I owe the State $37 and I'm getting a large refund from the Feds.  It has been a happy Monday. :) This post was edited by SpunkySenior at March 23, 2021 8:06 AM MDT
      March 22, 2021 3:41 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    GOOD ON YE sweetie! That's excellent! A bit of sunshine in all that gloom isn't at all hard to take! Hope today is Happy for you too! Thank you for your reply m'dear! :)
      March 23, 2021 3:02 AM MDT
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  • 44608
    It is unlikely there were any human inhabitants that long ago. 6,000 year old records from any culture are rare. So, as Spunky said, radiometric dating was most likely used.
      March 21, 2021 9:53 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    On what? The lava? Thank you for your reply E! :)
      March 21, 2021 10:02 AM MDT
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  • 3719
    That is within human archaeology but well before historical records that identifiably mention natural events. The earliest of them were written well within the last 4000 years (Chinese I think.)

    The geologists would have taken samples from within the volcano's last lava deposits, and dated them radiometrically, but not by carbon isotopes. That's used for biological samples that are rich in carbon.

    6000 years is I think in the range used by Uranium/Thorium dating of rocks (by the natural decay of Uranium to Thorium), but this instance might have used other isotopes.


      March 21, 2021 4:09 PM MDT
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