Radiogenic Isotope Geology

ABOUT THE COURSE:Radiogenic isotope geology course will cover fundamental aspects of nucleosynthesis, radioactive decay and growth, and introduce the enrolled candidates to geological applications of various isotopic systematics such as U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, U-disequilibrium series, cosmogenic radionuclides etc. for studies ranging from petrogenesis, crust-mantle evolution to ore genesis. This course will provide a complete learning of geochronological methods as applicable to geological as well as extraterrestrial studies.INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students of Geology/Earth SciencesPREREQUISITES: Students should have a sound understanding of GeochemistryINDUSTRY SUPPORT: Mineral Exploration companies

Syllabus

Week 1: An introduction to nucleosynthesis and the distribution of elements in the Solar System; Fundamentals of radioactive Week 2:Geochronometry; Mass spectrometry: Techniques and Applications; Sampling strategy and processing Week 3:K-Ar and Ar-Ar methods of dating and their applications Week 4:Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd methods of dating and their applications Week 5:Re-Os and Lu-Hf methods of dating and their applications Week 6:U-Th-Pb geochronology Week 7:Isotope Geology of Pb Week 8:Processing and presentation of raw isotope geochemical data Week 9:Application of Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf isotopes in petrogenetic studies Week 10:Fission Track method of dating; U-disequilibrium methods of dating Week 11:Cosmogenic radionuclides and their applications Week 12:Extinct radionuclides and cosmochronology