Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gq7q9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T13:04:40.810Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Introduction to Radiometric Dating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2017

Brent V. Miller
Brent V. Miller*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology & Geophysics, Halbouty Hall Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-3115, bvmiller@geo.tamu.edu
Get access

Abstract

Radiometric dating of rocks and minerals to constrain the age of the Earth, timing of geological events and paleobiological histories has its roots in the works of nuclear physicists of the early Nineteenth Century during the period of discovery of radioactivity and investigations into the nature of the atom. The intervening years since have seen great progress in using the long-lived radioactive elements to constrain the origin and evolution of the Earth and to place the rock and fossil record into a consistent, numerically quantifiable temporal framework.

U-Th-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar dating methods have emerged as the primary tools for calibrating most of Earth history. It is important for all geoscientists to appreciate the physical basis underlying these methods and to have the ability to evaluate dates by means of currently accepted practices of data presentation. This introduction, along with the accompanying chapters, is intended to help the consumers of radiometric dates to understand better the uses and limitations of radiometric dating methods in an effort to tailor methods and techniques to address specific geochronologic needs, including calibration of the geologic time scale.

The ultimate goal of a fully calibrated rock record remains an on-going endeavor. The 2004 ICS geologic time scale is the latest compilation of those efforts. The numerical age calibration is constrained by only 213 radiometric dates, the vast majority of which are U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar dates. Radiometric age control is not evenly distributed through geologic time. There are virtually no radiometric dates in the late Cenozoic where magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphic methods are more precise and applicable. Radiometric dating efforts are concentrated on biostratigraphically important segments of the rock record such as the Permian-Triassic and Cretaceous-Paleocene boundary events, and this is reflected in high-precision calibration of these boundaries. Large segments of geologic time, however, are constrained by either a few radiometric dates per chronostratigraphic unit (most of the Paleozoic) or none at all (Upper Triassic). The current status of radiometric age control on the rock record largely reflects real, underlying scientific issues in biostratigraphy and geochronology, and thus can help point the way to fruitful lines of collaboration between paleontologists, stratigraphers, and geochronologists.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Paleontological Society Papers , Volume 12: Geochronology: Emerging Opportunities , October 2006 , pp. 1 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © by the Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agterberg, F.P., 2004, Geomathematics, Chapter 8 in Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., and Smith, A. (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 188–201, Cambridge University (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 106–126, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Amthor, J.E., Grotzinger, J.P., Schröder, S., Bowring, S.A., Ramezani, J., Martin, M.W., and Matter, A., 2003, Extinction of Cloudina and Namacalathus at the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary in Oman: Geology, v. 31, p. 431–434.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bleeker, W., 2004. Towards a ‘natural’ time scale for the Precambrian—A proposal. Lethaia, v. 37, p. 219–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowring, S.A., Schoene, B., Crowley, J.L., Ramezani, J., and Condon, D.J., this volume, High-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology and stratigraphic record: progress and promise.Google Scholar
Bowring, S.A., and Erwin, D.H., 2004, Report on the Calibration of the Geological Timescale Workshop, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, 3–4 October 2003, 16 p.Google Scholar
Bowring, S.A., and Schmitz, M.D., 2003, High precision zircon geochronology and the stratigraphic record: in Hanchar, J.M., Hoskins, P.W.O. Zircon: Experiments, Isotopes, and Trace Element Investigations Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry v. 53, p. 305–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyet, M. and Carlson, R.W., 2005, 142Nd Evidence for Early (>4.53 Ga) Global Differentiation of the Silicate Earth. Science, v. 309, p. 576–581.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brasier, M., Cowie, J., and Taylor, M., 1994, Decision on the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary stratotype. Episodes v. 17, p. 95–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Connelly, J. N., 2000. Degree of preservation of igneous zonation in zircon as a signpost for concordancy in U/Pb geochronology. Chemical Geology, v. 172, p. 25–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R.A., and Sadler, P.M., 2004, The Ordovician System, Chapter 12 in Gradstein, F., Ogg, J. and Smith, A. (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 165–187, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Darwin, C. (1859) On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. John Murray, London, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, D.W., 1982, Optimum linear regression and error estimation applied to U-Pb data. Canadian Journal of Earth Science, v. 19, p. 2141–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallagher, K., Brown, R., and Johnson, C., 1998. Fission Track Analysis and its Applications to Geological Problems. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science, v. 26, p. 519–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gradstein, F.M., Ogg, J.G., Smith, A.G., Agterberg, F.P., Bleeker, W., Cooper, R.A., Davydov, V., Gibbard, P., Hinnov, L.A., House, M.R., Lourens, L., Luterbacher, H.P., McArthur, J., Melchin, M.J., Robb, L.J., Shergold, J., Villeneuve, M., Wardlaw, B.R., Ali, J., Brinkhuis, H., Hilgen, F.J., Hooker, J., Howarth, R.J., Knoll, A.H., Laskar, J., Monechi, S., Plumb, K.A., Powell, J., Raffi, I., Röhl, U., Sadler, P., Sanfilippo, A., Schmitz, B., Shackleton, N.J., Shields, G.A., Strauss, H., Van Dam, J., Van Kolfschoten, T., Veizer, J., and Wilson, D., 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004. Cambridge University Press, 589 pages.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gradstein, F.M., and Ogg, J.G., 2004. Geologic Time Scale 2004—why, how, and where next. Lethaia, v. 37, p. 175–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grotzinger, J.P., Bowring, S.A., Saylor, B.Z., and Kaufman, A.J., 1995, Biostratigraphic and geochronologic constraints on early Animal evolution. Science, v. 270, p. 598–604.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halverson, G.P., Hoffman, P.F., Schrag, D.P., Maloof, A.C., and Rice, A.H., 2005, Toward a Neoproterozoic composite carbon-isotope record, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 117, p. 1181–1207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, T.M. and Watson, E.B., 1983, Kinetics of zircon dissolution and zirconium diffusion in granitic melts of variable water content. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 84, p. 67–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ireland, T. R. and Williams, I. S., 2003, Considerations in zircon geochronology by SIMS. In: Hanchar, J.M. and Hoskin, P.W.O., eds, Zircon. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C., p. 215–241.Google Scholar
Jaffey, A.H., Flynn, K.F., Glendenin, L.E., Bentley, W.C., and Essling, A.M., 1971, Precision measurement of half-lives and specific activities of 235U and 238U. Physical Reviews C, v. C4, p. 1889–1906.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kerr, R.A., 2003, A Call for Telling Better Time Over the Eons, Science, v. 302, p. 375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koscler, J. and Sylvester, P.J., 2003, Present trends and the future of zircon in geochronology: laser ablation ICPMS. In: Hanchar, J., Hoskin, P. (eds.). Zircon: Experiments, isotopes and trace element investigations. Mineralogical Society of America – Geochemical Society Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, p. 243–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krogh, T.E., 1982a, Improved accuracy of U-Pb zircon ages by the creation of more concordant systems using an air abrasion technique: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 46, p. 637–649.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krogh, T.E., 1982b, Improved accuracy of U-Pb zircon dating by selection of more concordant fractions using a high gradient magnetic separation technique: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 46, p. 631–635.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, J.K.W., Onstott, T. C., Cashman, K. V., Cumbest, R. J., and Johnson, D., 1991, Incremental heating of hornblende in vacuo: Implications for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and the interpretation of thermal histories, Geology, v. 19, p. 872–876.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levchenkov, O.A., and Shukolyukov, Yu. A., 1970, A New method for calculating age and time of metamorphism of minerals and rocks without correction for ordinary lead. Geochemistry International, v. 1, p. 60–65.Google Scholar
Lewis, C.L.E., and Knell, S.J., [editors], 2001, The age of the Earth - from 4004 BC to AD 2002: The Geological Society, London, Special Publication 190, 288 p.Google Scholar
Ludwig, K.R., 1980, Calculation of uncertainties of U-Pb isotope data. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 46, p. 212–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ludwig, K.R., 1998, On the treatment of concordant uranium-lead ages: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 62, p. 665–676.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ludwig, K.R., 2003, Isoplot 3.00. Berkeley Geochronology Center, Special Publication No. 4, 70 p.Google Scholar
Mattinson, J.M., 2005, Zircon U–Pb chemical abrasion (bCA-TIMSQ) method: Combined annealing and multi-step partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages, Chemical Geology, v. 220, p. 47–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McDougall, I. and Harrison, T. M. (1999). Geochronology and Thermochronology by the 40Ar/39Ar Method, 2nd Edn. Oxford Univ. Press, 269 p.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Melchin, M., Cooper, R.A., and Sadler, P.M., 2004, The Silurian System, Chapter 13 in Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., and Smith, A. (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 188–201, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Miller, C.F., Meschter McDowell, S., and Mapes, R.W., 2003, Hot and cold granites? Implications of zircon saturation temperatures and preservation of inheritance, Geology, v. 31, p. 529–532.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Min, K., Mundil, R., Renne, P.R. and Ludwig, K.R., 2000, A test for systematic errors in 40Ar/39Ar geochronology through comparison with U/Pb analysis of a 1.1-Ga rhyolite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64: 73–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neuendorf, K. E., Mehl, J.P., and Jackson, J.A., eds., 2005. Glossary of Geology. Alexandria, VA: American Geological Institute.Google Scholar
Ogg, J.G., 2004a. Status of divisions of the International Geologic Time Scale. Lethaia, v. 37, p. 183–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ogg, J.G., 2004b, The Jurassic Period, Chapter 18 in Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., and Smith, A. (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 307–343, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Ogg, J.G., Agterberg, F.P., and Gradstein, F.M., 2004, The Cretaceous Period, Chapter 19 in Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., and Smith, A. (eds.), A Geologic Time Scale, p. 344–383, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Parrish, R.R., and Noble, S.R., 2003, Zircon U-Th-Pb geochronology by isotope dilution – thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS). In: Hanchar, J., Hoskin, P. (eds.). Zircon: Experiments, isotopes and trace element investigations. Mineralogical Society of America – Geochemical Society Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 53, p. 183–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, C., 1956, Age of meteorites and the Earth, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 10, p. 230–237 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiners, P.W., and Ehlers, T.A., 2005, Low-Temperature Thermochronology: Techniques, Interpretations, and Applications, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58.Google Scholar
Renne, P.R., Karner, D.B. and Ludwig, K.R., 1998a. Absolute ages aren't exactly. Science, v. 282, p. 1840–1841.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renne, P.R., Swisher, C.C., Deino, A.L., Karner, D.B., Owens, T.L. and Depaolo, D.J., 1998b, Intercalibration of standards, absolute ages and uncertainties in 40Ar/39Ar dating. Chemical Geology, v. 145, p. 117–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renne, P.R., this volume, Progress and challenges in K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology.Google Scholar
Richter, I.A., 1998, The notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. Richter, I.A. translator, Oxford; New York, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Rutherford, E., 1905, Present problems in radioactivity. Popular Science Monthly, v. 67, p.5–34.Google Scholar
Schoene, B, Crowley, J.L., Condon, D.C., Schmitz, M.D., and Bowring, S.A., 2006, Reassessing the Uranium decay constants for geochronology using ID-TIMS U–Pb data. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 70, p. 426–445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smoliar, M.I., Walker, R.J., and Morgan, J.W., 1996, Re-Os ages of group IIA, IIIA, IVA, and IVB iron meteorites, Science, v. 271, p. 1099–1102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stacey, J. S., and Kramers, J. D., 1975, Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two stage model: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 26, p. 207–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tera, F., and Wasserburg, G.J., 1972, U-Th-Pb systematics in three Apollo 14 basalts and the problem of initial Pb in lunar rocks. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 14, p. 281–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, W., 1864, On the secular cooling of the Earth. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, v. 23, p. 157–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, S.L., Gradstein, F.M., and Ogg, J.G., 2004, History, philosophy, and application of the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP). Lethaia, Vol. 37, p. 201–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, E.B., and Harrison, T.M., 1983, Zircon saturation revisited: Temperature and composition effects in a variety of crustal magma types: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 64, p. 295–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wendt, I., 1984, A three-dimensional U-Pb discordia plane to evaluate samples with common lead of unknown isotopic composition: Chemical Geology, v. 46, p. 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wetherill, G.W., 1956, Discordant uranium-lead ages: Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 37, p. 320–326.Google Scholar
Zalasiewicz, J., Smith, A., Brenchley, P., Evans, J., Knox, R., Riley, N., Gale, A., Gregory, F.J., Rushton, A., Gibbard, P., Hesselbo, S., Marshall, J., Oates, M., Rawson, P., and Trewin, N., 2004, Simplifying the stratigraphy of time: Geology, v. 32, p. 1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar