Introduction to radioactive decay and the application of various radioactive decay schemes as geochronometers. Includes both the theory of radioactive decay and the principles and design of mass spectrometers. Much discussion will focus on practical applications of geochronology for solving absolute ages of events and rates of tectonic and mineralizing processes in the Earth Sciences, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different isotopic systems, and different analytical techniques, using case histories from the recent literature.
For a full listing of course offerings please see the UBC calendar description
under development
Jim Mortensen (with input from Ken Hickey, Dick Tosdal, Tom Ullrich, Richard Friedman, and Dan Gibson)
No specific text is recommended; see webcontents for required/recommended readings for each session.
G. Faure: Principles of Isotope Geology,
Wiley - 1986
A.P. Dickin: Radiogenic Isotope Geology,
Cambridge - 1995
see web content
see web content