Abstract
Since the generalized use of the ζ-calibration method, research on fission-track age calibration and the parameters that govern the accuracy of fission-track ages has become limited to a few laboratories. The present paper gives a review of the research that has been carried out on these problems in our laboratory during the last decade. The results of these investigations demonstrate that absolute thermal neutron fluence measurements and the determination of the 235U fission rate during sample irradiation no longer present a problem. The only parameter that would seem to remain to be determined is therefore the spontaneous fission decay constant of 238U (λf). However, the results of our experiments also re-emphasize the importance of the techniques of track analysis that are used in an FT age determination. They can be responsible for systematic differences up to 15–20% in the final age result if the absolute approach is used. The parameters that play a role are the track registration efficiency and the combined etching-observation efficiency. These parameters have to be properly dealt with if λf is determined through the analysis of samples of known age. By applying the same analytical techniques to the age standards and the unknown samples, the ζ-method eliminates the systematic effects of these parameters and intrinsically ensures accurate ages. When a value of λf is agreed by consensus and/or as a result of new experimentation, it will still be essential to perform age standard analyses for determining a procedure factor (Q) that yields direct information on the systematic effect of the technique of track analysis. This routine will nevertheless be a significant improvement on the calibration based on the determination of the all-embracing ζ-factor.
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van den Haute, P., de Corte, F., Jonckheere, R., Bellemans, F. (1998). The Parameters That Govern the Accuracy of Fission-Track Age Determinations: A Re-Appraisal. In: van den Haute, P., de Corte, F. (eds) Advances in Fission-Track Geochronology. Solid Earth Sciences Library, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9133-1_3
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