Patterson's ability to isolate microgram quantities of lead from ordinary rocks and to determine their isotope composition led him to examining the lead in ocean sediment samples from the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Kemampuan Patterson mengisolasi timbal dalam jumlah mikrogram dari batuan biasa dan menentukan komposisi isotopnya mendorongnya untuk meneliti kandungan timbal di sampel sedimen Samudra Atlantik dan Pasifik.