本課程包含每週兩小時演講與三小時實習課程，以介紹同位素定年系統之原理與應用為主。This course includes two-hour lecture and three-hour laboratory experiments a week, designed for senior and graduate geosciences students. It will introduces theoretical basis and application of geochronology and thermochronometry, commonly-used radiometric clocks, derivation of diffusion equation and methods of solution, relationship between heat and mass diffusion, closure theory, isotope systematics and interpretive models, petrological applications.
This course will also introduce the update techniques, theories, and methods in studying radiometric isotope systems for the Earth and its related planets. The series of lectures in this course will discuss seven aspects:

(1) Historical review
(2) Decay schemes and mass spectrometry
(3) K-Ar geochronological system
(4) Ar-Ar dating technique and its applications
(5) Diffusion mathematics and in silicates
(6) Introduction to other dating methods: U-Pb, U-The-He, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, fission track, 14C, Be, Al,?etc.
(7) Case studies cover (1) cooling history of plutonic and metamorphic rocks; (2) thermal History of sedimentary basin; (3) dating eruption age of volcanic rock and many others.