neodymium142

Neodymium-142 (142Nd) is a radioactive isotope of neodymium, a rare earth metal with the atomic number 60. It is a product of the decay of samarium-146, which has a half-life of approximately 103 million years. Neodymium-142 itself has a half-life of about 11 million years, decaying through beta minus (β-) decay to praseodymium-142. This isotope is significant in geochronology and cosmochemistry, as it provides insights into the early solar system and the processes that occurred during its formation. Neodymium-142 is also used in studies of the Earth's mantle and crust, helping to understand the differentiation of the planet and the movement of tectonic plates. Its decay characteristics and abundance in meteorites and terrestrial rocks make it a valuable tool for dating and tracing the evolution of the solar system and the Earth.