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77776-01 - Lecture: Geochronology, Thermochronology and Exposure Dating (2 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers |
Dominik Fleitmann (dominik.fleitmann@unibas.ch)
Alexandre Kounov (a.kounov@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Much of Earth sciences rely on chronometric use of radioactive decay and growth of naturally occurring nuclides to understand the timing of events and rates of processes. The geochronology and the thermochronology are the two disciplines which deal with this problematic. Geochronology is the science of determining when minerals and rocks formed whereas the Thermochronology is focused on the thermal history of the natural material. There are also large numbers of tools that have been developed to determine how long materials have been exposed to the surface. This course will focus on walking through the details of the more common dating techniques and their geologic applications. There is no upper age limit to many of our dating methods, and the younger limits are being pushed to towards recent history. Besides the Earth and planetary science the tools and applications of geochronology find use in a variety of fields, including archeology, evolutionary ecology, and environmental studies. There is no upper age limit to many of our dating methods, and the younger limits are being pushed to towards recent history. Besides the Earth and planetary science the tools and applications of geochronology find use in a variety of fields, including archeology, evolutionary ecology, and environmental studies. |
| Learning objectives | Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to understand the science of geochronometry, which is based on the decay of long-lived radioactive nuclides to stable daughters. The course will also provide skills for using the isotopic dating to solve different geological problems. |
| Bibliography | -Reiners, P.W., Carlson, R.W., Renne, P.R., Cooper, K.M., Granger, D.E., McLean, N.M., Schoene, B. 2018. Geochronology and Thermochronology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 491pp. -Faure, G. 1986. Principles of Isotope Geology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 491pp. -Malusà, M.G., Paul G. Fitzgerald, P.G. 2019. Fission-Track Thermochronology and its Application to Geology. Springer International Publishing AG. 393pp. -Niedermann, S. 2002. Cosmic-ray produced noble gases in terrestrial rocks: Dating tools for surface processes. In: D. Porcelli, C. Ballentine, R. Wieler, (Editors), Noble Gases in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 47, 731-784. -Noller, J.S., Sowers, J.M., Lettis, W.R. 2013. Quaternary Geochronology: Methods and American Geophysical Union. 582pp. |
| Weblink | https://adam.unibas.ch |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| wöchentlich | Friday | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 16.02.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Friday 20.02.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Monday 23.02.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Friday 27.02.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Fasnachtsferien |
| Monday 02.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Friday 06.03.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Monday 09.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Monday 16.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Friday 20.03.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Monday 23.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Friday 27.03.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Monday 30.03.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Bernoullistrasse 30/32, Praktikumsraum 108 |
| Modules |
Module: Professional Competence: Geography and Geology (Bachelor's Studies: Geosciences) Moudle: Electives Geography and Geology (Bachelor's Studies: Geosciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Geowissenschaften |