Carbon Dating Question

[Cordellhall83]

First, I don't fully comprehend carbon dating. But with that disclaimer, I'm wondering how the date of a rock formed by lava would work. Would carbon dating give the date of the actual lava or the date when the lava cooled and formed the rock. Any scientist on board...or at least someone well read on the subject?

 

[Rulz]

Without googling, I'm going to have to say the intense heat of the lava would somehow "denature" the structure of the rock on that particular level and therefore skew the results of carbon dating to favor when it was newly formed.

 

[GoPokes43]

Carbon dating relates to measure the radioactive decay of organic carbons (i.e., dead animal remains, algae, bacteria, etc.). So, I think lava messes it up since it would cook the organics.

 

[EvilPOKES]

Ain't carbon dating lava rocks, no radiocarbon available due to heat/formation.

 

[Cordellhall83]

Thanks guys. Saved me some reading that I would never have understood!