Trapped-charge thermochronometry and thermometry: A status review

摘要

Trapped-charge dating methods including luminescence and electron spin resonance dating have high potential as low temperature (<100 degrees C) thermochronometers. Despite an early proof of concept almost 60 years ago, it is only in the past two decades that thermoluminescence (TL), electron-spin-resonance (ESR), and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), have begun to gain,momentum in geological thermochronometry and thermometry applications. Here we review the physics of trapped-charge dating, the studies that led to its development and its first applications for deriving palaeo-temperatures and/or continuous cooling histories. Analytical protocols, which enable the derivation of sample specific kinetic parameters over laboratory timescales, are also described. The key limitation of trapped-charge thermochronometry is signal saturation, which sets an upper limit of its application to <1 Ma, thus restricting it to rapidly exhuming terrains (>200 degrees C Ma(-1)), or elevated-temperature underground settings (>30 degrees C). Despite this limitation, trapped-charge thermochronometry comprises a diverse suite of versatile methods, and we explore potential future applications and research directions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.