<p>No, not really. In simple terms, to be soluble in water, Pb must be in contact with it. But most of Pb is stored within the Zircon lattice, where water cannot diffuse through. For example, many zircons in metamorphic and magmatic-hydrothermal settings experience supercritical fluids, but preserve their U/Pb ratios (e.g. inherited cores in metasedimentary zircons). However, metamorphic events themselves can lead to Pb loss, which you can correct with a Tera-Wasserburg approach.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-14T10:52:35.840Z
2021-07-14T10:52:35.840Z
Curious
<p>When radiometric dating, would water affect the measured age of old rocks ?</p>
<p>Specifically would water affect <strong>Uranium-238</strong> to <strong>Lead-206</strong> dating of Zircon crystals?</p>
<p>Would it affect the lead since it’s slightly soluble in water?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-17T01:54:35.610Z
another 206Pb related question: [Do lead 206 and other daughter isotopes occur naturally?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/22506/6031)
uhoh
<water><rocks><dating><geochronology>
Does water affect radiometric dating?
Beans
# Does water affect radiometric dating?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-11)

When radiometric dating, would water affect the measured age of old rocks ?

Specifically would water affect **Uranium-238** to **Lead-206** dating of Zircon crystals?

Would it affect the lead since it’s slightly soluble in water?

**Tags:** water, rocks, dating, geochronology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: another 206Pb related question: [Do lead 206 and other daughter isotopes occur naturally?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/22506/6031)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-07-14. Score: 3

No, not really. In simple terms, to be soluble in water, Pb must be in contact with it. But most of Pb is stored within the Zircon lattice, where water cannot diffuse through. For example, many zircons in metamorphic and magmatic-hydrothermal settings experience supercritical fluids, but preserve their U/Pb ratios (e.g. inherited cores in metasedimentary zircons). However, metamorphic events themselves can lead to Pb loss, which you can correct with a Tera-Wasserburg approach.


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