Course description: This course is intended for PhD students in the Dept. of Geosciences, whose research issues on global change by means of U-Th dating techniques. General undergraduate and graduate students will not be recommended to attend this class. This course will allow students absorbing enough background of U-Th dating methodology. It covers topics from fundamental radiogenic dating theory to frontier applications. It emphasizes both theoretical and practical aspects. Modern instrumental techniques and experimental methods will be included. Paper reading, discussion and presentation will play essential roles in class. Chemistry, instrumental analysis, and off-line age calculation will be conducted. After taking this class, students will be able to design an U-Th experimental procedure, including estimating sample size, sampling, choosing chemicals and labwares, instrumental measurement, data reduction, and age determination.
Literature: Uranium-Series Geochemitry by Bourdon, Henderson,
Lundstrom, and Turner, 2003
Radiogenic Isotope Geolgoy by Dickin, 2005

Text materials: Selected chapters, class handouts, papers.
Grading: Homework, 30%; Experiment, 30%
Report and presentation, 20%; Final exam, 20%.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction.
2. Decay modes, Law of radioactivity.
3. Geochronology.
4. U-series.
5. Theory
6. Chemistry.
7. Instrumental analysis I.
8. Instrumental analysis II.
9. Off-line data reduction.
10. U-Th age calculation.
11. Initial Th-230.
12. Young carbonate U-Th dating.
13. Old sample dating.
14. Application I: marine carboantes
15. Application II: terrestrial carbonates
16. Experiment I
17. Experiment II
18. Final exam.