Introduction to Geochronology

Abstract

These lecture notes cover the first half of an Isotope Geology module at University College London that deals with the geochronological aspects of the subject. The notes introduce the basic principles of radioactive decay, mass spectrometry and isotope dilution before discussing the most common geochronometers in use today, including radiocarbon, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, U-Pb, Pb-Pb, K-Ar, Ar-Ar, U-Th-He, fission tracks, cosmogenic nuclides and U-series. Practical exercises accompany the theoretical introduction, including five Matlab sessions in which simplified yet realistic datasets are processed.