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Letter ZGeology glossary

Zircon Fission Track Dating

Zircon fission track dating is a geochronological method used to determine the thermal history of rocks by analyzing the damage tracks left by the spontaneous fission of uranium within zircon crystals. This technique is significant in geology for dating geological events such as volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and the cooling history of rocks.

Microscopic view of needle-shaped mineral crystals (Zircon Fission Track Dating)
Fig. 1 Microscopic view of needle-shaped mineral crystals (Zircon Fission Track Dating)

Source Gleadow, A. J. W., & Duddy, I. R. (1981). “Fission Track Dating of Zircon: Improved Methodology and Applications.” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 52(1), 41-48.

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