Correction factors for systematic errors related to the track counts in fission-track dating with the external detector method

• Published in: Radiation measurements Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 351 - 356
• Main Authors: Enkelmann, E., Jonckheere, R.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age correction; Age standards; Apatite; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fission-track dating; Geochronology; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Age standards; Apatite; Age correction; Fission-track dating; microscope methods; energy transfer; neutrons; apatite; fission-track dating; corrections; phosphates; standard samples; fission; uranium; calibration; age; errors; methodology
• ISSN: 1350-4487; 1879-0925
• DOI: 10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00150-1

Tracks from uranium fission are the basis of fission-track dating of minerals. The fission-track method has not attained the status of an independent dating method because of problems related to neutron fluence measurements and the decay constant. Fission-track ages are instead determined relative to the reference ages of standards using an empirical calibration factor ( ζ-method). Methodical advances during the last decade imply that these problems need not remain obstacles to establishing fission-track dating as an independent method. However, sources of systematic error related to the track density measurements need to be corrected before this can be the case. A correction factor (GQR), determined by experiment, is in good agreement with its calculated value. The ages of apatites of known age determined with the φ-method are also in good agreement with their reference ages. When applied to a set of samples of unknown age, the φ-method produces results that are consistent with those obtained with the Z- and ζ-methods. These results lend support to the method of neutron fluence measurement, to the recommended value of the decay constant and to the calculated and measured GQR-value. On the other hand, these results call into question the validity of age corrections based on confined track length measurements.