Which radiometric dating technique is best for determining the age difference between two Miocene-age volcanic ash deposits separated by 500 feet?

The Potassium-Argon dating technique is particularly well-suited for determining the age difference between Miocene-age volcanic ash deposits. This method is effective for dating geological materials that are millions of years old, which aligns well with the age range of the Miocene epoch, approximately 23 to 5 million years ago.

Potassium-Argon dating relies on the radioactive decay of potassium-40 to argon-40, which can occur in volcanic rock and ash. When volcanic material solidifies, any argon produced from the decay of potassium is trapped within the rock. Over time, the accumulation of argon can be measured to determine the time that has elapsed since the volcanic event. This technique is particularly advantageous given that the deposits in question are separated by a significant distance (500 feet), as it allows for precise dating of individual ash layers that might have been deposited during different volcanic eruptions.

In contrast, other methods, such as Carbon-14, are suitable for much more recent organic materials, up to about 50,000 years old, making it inappropriate for Miocene deposits. Uranium-Lead dating, while useful for very old rocks, is often more complicated and typically used in specific contexts such as zircon minerals. Rubidium