Lesson 1Potassium-Argon and Argon-Argon (K-Ar, Ar-Ar): minerals suitable (whole-rock basalt, sanidine, groundmass, plagioclase), age ranges, sample preparation, excess argon issuesWe dive into K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar methods, the right minerals and rocks for them, irradiation and step-heating processes, age spectra, problems like excess and inherited argon, checking for alteration, and suitable age ranges from young 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 inheritanceWe cover U–Pb dating in zircon and baddeleyite in detail, including how U and Pb get into them, concordia diagrams, discordance, Pb loss, inheritance, correcting for common Pb, and uses for granitoids, mafic intrusions, and volcanic ash or tuff layers.
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 curvesWe explain how paleomagnetism helps with age control using polarity stratigraphy and secular variation. We discuss sampling design, demagnetization, linking to geomagnetic polarity timescales, and combining with radiometric ages and stratigraphy.
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 cover the main ideas of radioisotopic dating, like parent–daughter decay, half-life, decay constants, closure temperature, making isochrons, correcting initial daughter, and checking for open-system behaviour and analysis errors.
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 estimationWe introduce luminescence dating of quartz and feldspar, explaining the physics of trapped charges, measuring burial dose, sampling in darkness, calculating dose rates, age limits, and common issues like signal saturation and anomalous fading.
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 go through radiocarbon production, decay, and measurement, suitable organic and inorganic materials, pretreatment, calibration curves, reservoir and hard-water effects, age range up to about 50 ka, and reading calibrated probability distributions.
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 uncertaintiesWe review common field and lab problems that mess up ages, like contamination, reworking, diagenesis, inheritance, open-system behaviour, detector issues, and data mistakes, with ways to spot, fix, and control quality.
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 strategies, picking main and backup tools, combining stratigraphic and biostratigraphic limits, sorting out conflicting ages, and building solid timelines with clear uncertainty estimates.
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 selectionWe introduce fission-track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology in apatite and zircon, explaining track formation, annealing, helium diffusion, closure temperatures, picking samples, age spread, and modelling cooling histories and exhumation paths.
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
