After Zhou Xixian and Ye Bo's assistants left, they were waiting for the identification results.
It is not difficult to determine the age of fossils. The relative age has always been determined based on the stratum where it was found. However, since people's understanding of atoms has gradually deepened, scientists have found ways to determine the absolute age.
Most of the substances found in nature are composed of several isotopes (that is, various atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers). Some isotopes are radioactive, that is, their nuclei spontaneously emit radiation and gradually transform into another substance. For example, there is the radioactive isotope 14.
Each radioactive isotope has its own certain rate of decay, which is called its "half-life" - the time it takes for half the number of atoms of a substance to decay. Therefore, if we know the half-lives of various isotopes, it is not difficult to calculate the age of an object containing that isotope, simply by measuring how much of the isotope is left.
The two most widely used methods at present are the 14C method, which is used to identify organic matter; and the second, the 40K-40Ar method, which is used to identify volcanic strata and related fossils. Taking the 40K-40Ar method as an example, argon is the decay product of the radioactive isotope potassium. The half-life of this isotope potassium is 1.3 billion years, so it is easy to determine the age of the specimen. At present, this method has been developed to be extremely sophisticated, and it can identify specimens that are only about 50,000 years old, as well as specimens that are the same age as the earth, with very small errors.
After a while, Zhou Xixian's assistant called back first.
"Have the identification results come out?" Zhou Xixian walked to the side and asked in a low voice.
"The results are out, about 200 million years ago." An excited voice came from the phone.
"Is that correct?" Zhou Xixian's pupils suddenly lit up, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement. Two hundred million years ago, in other words, the late Triassic period, a little earlier than the Jurassic period where the dinosaurs lived.
"It's impossible to make a mistake. We identified it twice. Teacher, this fossil is of extraordinary value..."
"You need to tell me." Zhou Xixian was afraid that Ye Bo would hear it, so he quickly hung up the phone, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and walked towards Su Jing, intending to be the first to take down the fossil.
Unexpectedly, Ye Bo's excited voice sounded at this time: "What? Two hundred million years ago?" Ye Bo was on the phone. Apparently his assistant had also completed the identification and got the same result.
"Mr. Su, I must bring this fossil back to the Institute of Archeology." Zhou Xixian said before he knew that his plan to secretly take it was ruined.
"That's nonsense. Do you understand what first come, first served means? I should take it back to the Institute of Paleontology." Ye Bo was also excited. This spider fossil is at least 3,500 years older than the earliest relatively complete spider fossil discovered so far. Thousands of years. There is no doubt that this is a precious fossil of great archaeological and research value.
"Then it's fair competition, I'll offer you 100,000," Zhou Xixian said.
"I...I'll pay 150,000." Ye Bo's mouth twitched, and he became anxious, because he knew that he couldn't get it with money. It's not that the Archaeological Research Institute has a lot of funds, but that this old man Zhou himself is very wealthy.
"Three hundred thousand." Zhou Xixian said calmly.
"Thirty...three hundred and fifty thousand." Ye Bo risked his life.
"Five million." Zhou Xixian said calmly. Ye Bo was speechless. He was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, his face turned red. Zhou Xixian smiled and said, "Haha, it seems that this fossil belongs to me."
"Mr. Zhou, I think this fossil is worth more than this." Su Jing said with a smile.
"You can't say that. To ordinary people, this fossil is just a stone. Only old people like us like it, so it's impossible for you to sell it at a high price." Zhou Xixian waved his hand.
"Don't listen to him. If you sell this fossil at an auction, it will be worth at least one million." Ye Bo couldn't get it himself, but he didn't want Zhou Xixian to get it so easily. This kind of unique fossil is probably liked by many collectors. If it were to be sold, it would cost no less than one million. If no earlier spider fossils are discovered in the next few years, the price will rise.
"You old man, strictly speaking, this fossil belongs to the national property. Can you just sell it at the auction house? Bring it back to the Archaeological Institute for me, you are making a contribution to the country." Zhou Xixian said angrily, but it was really Afraid that Su Jing would take it and sell it, she said, "One million is just one million. How about Mr. Su selling it to me more easily?"
Ye Bo stopped talking now. He didn't really want Su Jing to sell the fossils at the auction house. In comparison, selling to the Archaeological Institute was still much better than selling to private individuals. He just wanted to trick Zhou. Just have some free time.
"Okay, Mr. Zhou, I will sell it to you for one million, but there is a condition. When you don't use this fossil, you can occasionally study it for Mr. Ye." Su Jing said, having just released the mental power detection, according to Zhou Xixian's Judging from the mental fluctuations, this should be his highest price. If it goes higher, he may not buy it. Such a fossil that was of no use to him could be sold for one million yuan. This business would not be done in vain. As for speaking for Ye Bo, it was for Xue Zonghong's sake.
"That's okay. If you have any fossils or anything like that in the future, remember to come find me." Zhou Xixian glanced at Ye Bo and reluctantly agreed. He was afraid that Su Jing would regret it, so he immediately transferred one hundred to Su Jing. Ten thousand.
"Thank you, Mr. Su." Ye Bo also smiled happily.
"It's just a little effort." Su Jing smiled.
Li Guanglei and others who faintly heard the conversation not far away couldn't help but be surprised. No wonder Su Jing was so rich and could afford to build such a building. The first floor was even reinforced with alloy plates. It turned out that it was so easy for him to make money, with just one stone. Sold for a million. At some point, I will pick up a few fossils myself and see if I can sell them for tens or even millions.
"Speaking of which, it's really strange that this spider is so well preserved." Zhou Xixian said doubtfully while holding the fossil. Ye Bo didn't speak, but he gave a rare nod in agreement.
"Why is it strange?" Su Jing asked.
"The most intact spider fossils discovered before were buried by fine volcanic ash, so the fragile outer marrow was not destroyed, just crushed. But this one, obviously not, and I don't know why? Zhou Xixian said.
"This... you don't know, it's even more impossible for me to know." Su Jing said this, but her heart skipped a beat. Is it because of the strong body of the spiders that mortals cultivate and spread to the world? For example, the giant spider was hit by rocks, but it did not die immediately, and its body was basically intact. If it were an earth spider, it would have turned into meatloaf. However, this reason cannot be stated.
"Well, take it back and study it carefully." Zhou Xixian called his assistant, picked up the fossil, and left happily. Ye Bo also said goodbye to Su Jing. Looking at the backs of the two people, Su Jing thought to herself, I hope they don't waste too much time on it. After all, no matter what they study, it is actually very different from the earth.