Fission-Track Dating

Fission track dating is based on the microscopic observation and counting of etchable tracks left by the spontaneous fission of uranium in minerals. Since its development in 1963 the method attracted a steadily growing interest from geologists and geochronologists throughout the world. Apart from its relative experimental ease the success must be mainly ascribed to the specific ability of the method of unravelling the thermal and tectonic history of rocks, a potential which only became fully exploited during the last decade with the systematic introduction of track size analysis.
The present work is the first one to deal entirely with fission track dating covering all of its aspects from the origin of the fission tracks, the basis of track etching and fading, the various dating techniques as well as practical procedures and the geologic interpretation to the most recent applications in geology and archaeology.

Résumé
** Wagner & Van den Haute's book is highly recommended to post-graduate students interested in geochronology, as well as to the non-specialist concerned with fission-tracks. DedicatedTrackologists' will find this book a good reference work. '
European Journal of Mineralogy, 5

Contenu
Particle Tracks and Fission Tracks.- 1.1. Particle Tracks in Solids: Generalities.- 1.2. Structure of the Latent Track.- 1.3. Track Formation.- 1.4. Nuclear Fission and Formation of Fission Tracks.- Track Revelation and Observation.- 2.1. Techniques of Track Revelation: Chemical Etching.- 2.2. Etched Tracks in Glass.- 2.3. Etched Tracks in Crystals.- 2.4. Microscopic Observation.- 3. Fission-Track Dating Method.- 3.1. Natural Tracks and their Origin.- 3.2. Principles of the Dating Method: Fundamental Age Equation.- 3.3. Practical Age Equation.- 3.4. Relevant Nuclear Parameters.- 3.5. Dating Systems and their Calibration.- 3.6. Dating Procedures and Techniques.- 3.7. Practical Considerations.- 3.8. Data Analysis and Error Calculation.- 3.9. Age Standards and Accuracy of Age Determination.- 3.10. Data Presentation.- 4. Fading of Fission Tracks.- 4.1. Causes of Track Fading.- 4.2. Track Annealing under Experimental Conditions.- 4.3. Track Stability under Natural Conditions.- 5. Geological Interpretation.- 5.1. Intersecting Probability of Faded Tracks.- 5.2. Partial Annealing and Effective Retention of Tracks.- 5.3. T-t-Path and Fission-Track Accumulation.- 5.4. T-t-Path and Fission-Track-Length Distribution.- 5.5. Types of Fission-Track Age.- 5.6. Age-Depth Profiles.- 5.7. Correction of Track Fading.- 6. Applicability.- 6.1. Time Span.- 6.2. Geological Materials.- 7. Application.- 7.1. Tephrochronology.- 7.2. Post-Orogenic Uplift of Mountain Belts.- 7.3. Epeirogenic Uplift of Basements.- 7.4. Age and Amount of Displacement along Faults.- 7.5. Thermal Evolution of Sedimentary Basins.- 7.6. Age and Thermal History of Ore Deposits.- 7.7. Meteoroid Impacts.- 7.8. Sea-Floor Spreading.- 7.9. Archaeological Application.- Appendix A: Etching Conditions for the Revelation of Fission Tracks.- Appendix B: Annealing Properties of Fission Tracks in Minerals and Glasses.- Appendix C: Fundamentals of Error Calculation in Fission-Track Dating.- References.