Lesson 1Potassium-Argon and Argon-Argon (K-Ar, Ar-Ar): minerals suitable (whole-rock basalt, sanidine, groundmass, plagioclase), age ranges, sample preparation, excess argon issuesThis lesson looks into K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating methods, ideal minerals and rocks like basalts common in Namibia, irradiation and step-heating processes, age spectra, problems with excess or inherited argon, checking for alteration, and suitable age ranges from recent basalts to old volcanic and metamorphic rocks.
40K decay scheme and argon retentionSuitable minerals and rock typesIrradiation, flux monitors and standardsAge spectra, plateaus and isochronsExcess argon, recoil and alteration testsLesson 2U-Pb in zircon and baddeleyite: applications to granitoids, ash/tuff, concordia diagrams, Pb loss and inheritanceHere we detail U–Pb dating using zircon and baddeleyite, how U and Pb get into minerals, concordia diagrams, reasons for discordance, Pb loss, inheritance, correcting for common Pb, and uses for granitoids, mafic intrusions, and volcanic ash or tuff layers found across Namibia.
U and Pb partitioning in accessory mineralsID-TIMS, LA-ICP-MS and SIMS approachesConcordia, discordia and age interpretationPb loss, metamorphism and inheritanceApplications to plutons and ash layersLesson 3Paleomagnetism as an auxiliary absolute/relative tool: polarity stratigraphy correlation, sampling procedures, secular variation curvesThis lesson explains paleomagnetism for age control via polarity patterns and changes over time. We cover sampling plans, demagnetisation steps, matching to global polarity timelines, and combining with radiometric dates and layering for Namibian rock sequences.
Remanent magnetization carriers and typesField sampling strategies and orientationLaboratory demagnetization and componentsPolarity stratigraphy and GPTS correlationSecular variation curves and age modelingLesson 4Radioisotopic dating fundamentals: parent-daughter systems, half-life, closure temperature, isochronsWe introduce key ideas in radioisotopic dating: parent–daughter decay, half-life, decay rates, closure temperature, building isochrons, fixing initial daughter amounts, and spotting open-system issues plus measurement errors relevant to local rocks.
Radioactive decay equations and half-lifeParent–daughter systems and mineral hostsClosure temperature and diffusion effectsIsochron theory and data regressionAssessing open-system behavior and errorsLesson 5Luminescence dating (OSL/IRSL/TL): dating feldspar and quartz in sediments, burial dose measurement, sample handling to avoid light exposure, age ranges and dose rate estimationThis lesson introduces luminescence dating of quartz and feldspar in sediments, trapped charge basics, measuring burial dose, dark sampling to prevent light exposure, dose rate calculations, age limits, and issues like signal saturation and fading, useful for Namibian sands.
Trapped charge physics and luminescence signalsOSL, IRSL and TL measurement protocolsField sampling and light-safe handlingDose rate components and environmental dosimetryAge calculation, limits and fading correctionsLesson 6Radiocarbon (C-14): materials dated, calibration, reservoir effects, upper limit ~50 kaWe cover radiocarbon production, decay, measurement, suitable organic and inorganic materials, preparation steps, calibration curves, reservoir and hard-water effects, age range up to about 50 ka, and reading calibrated probability distributions for archaeological sites.
14C production, decay law and measurementDatable materials and sample pretreatmentCalibration curves and calendar agesMarine and freshwater reservoir effectsLimits, background and contamination controlLesson 7Common laboratory and field errors across methods: contamination, reworking, diagenesis, inheritance, open-system behavior, and analytical uncertaintiesThis lesson reviews typical field and lab issues biasing ages, like contamination, reworking, diagenesis, inheritance, open systems, detector problems, data errors, with ways to spot, reduce, and control quality in Namibian fieldwork.
Sampling bias, mixing and reworkingContamination and modern carbon inputsDiagenesis, alteration and resettingInheritance and detrital grain complicationsAnalytical uncertainties and QA/QCLesson 8Cross-validation and multi-method strategies: choosing primary and backup methods, integrating stratigraphic constraints and biostratigraphyWe discuss planning multi-method dating, picking main and backup tools, adding layering and fossil constraints, fixing mismatched ages, and creating solid timelines with clear uncertainty estimates for local geology.
Criteria for choosing primary methodsSelecting complementary backup techniquesIntegrating stratigraphy and biostratigraphyReconciling discordant or outlier agesChronological models and uncertainty budgetsLesson 9Fission-track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology: apatite and zircon for cooling histories, track annealing, effective temperature ranges, sample selectionThis lesson covers fission-track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology in apatite and zircon, track formation and annealing, helium diffusion, closure temps, sample picking, age spread, and modelling cooling and uplift paths relevant to Namibia.
Spontaneous fission tracks and etching methodsTrack annealing, kinetics and partial zones(U-Th)/He diffusion and closure conceptsMineral selection and radiation damage effectsThermal history and exhumation modeling
