RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE DATING OF SURFACES

Introduction

What is the age of a landform or surface?

Why date land surfaces?

Relative dating methods

Etch surfaces

Duri Crusts

Epigene surfaces

Exhumed surfaces and forms

Depositional surfaces

Summary

Absolute methods

Luminescence methods

Uranium series

Cosmogenic isotopes

Argon dating

Radiocarbon dating

Electron spin resonance (ESR)

Cation ratios

Palaeomagnetism and oxygen isotope ratios

Discussion of absolute dating methods and applications

Limitations of the cosmogenic method

Successful applications

Some cosmogenic nuclide problems

Testing

Methodological issues

Salutary tales

Potential sampling problems

Conclusion