Fission-Track Dating

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.