Geochronology is the scientific method used to determine the absolute ages of rocks, minerals, and geological events. This field relies heavily on the principles of isotope decay, utilizing the predictable rate at which radioactive elements decay into stable daughter products. Various radiometric dating techniques measure the ratios of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes within samples to calculate the time elapsed since the rock material solidified or underwent a specific geological event. These methods provide critical chronological data for understanding the deep history of the Earth, the timing of continental shifts, and the sequence of past biological and physical processes.