A cosmic trip: 25 years of cosmogenic nuclides in geology

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2013 A cosmic trip: 25 years of cosmogenic nuclides in geology Darryl E. Granger; Darryl E. Granger † 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA †E-mail: [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nathaniel A. Lifton; Nathaniel A. Lifton 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jane K. Willenbring Jane K. Willenbring 2Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Darryl E. Granger † 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA Nathaniel A. Lifton 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA Jane K. Willenbring 2Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA †E-mail: [e-mail] Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 02 Aug 2012 Revision Received: 22 Dec 2012 Accepted: 30 Dec 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2013 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2013) 125 (9-10): 1379–1402. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30774.1 Article history Received: 02 Aug 2012 Revision Received: 22 Dec 2012 Accepted: 30 Dec 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Darryl E. Granger, Nathaniel A. Lifton, Jane K. Willenbring; A cosmic trip: 25 years of cosmogenic nuclides in geology. GSA Bulletin 2013;; 125 (9-10): 1379–1402. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30774.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides, produced by secondary cosmic-ray interactions in the atmosphere and in situ within minerals in the shallow lithosphere, are widely used to date surface exposure of rocks and sediments, to estimate erosion and weathering rates, and to date sediment deposition or burial. Their use has transformed geomorphology and Quaternary geology, for the first time allowing landforms to be dated and denudation rates to be measured over soil-forming time scales. The application of cosmogenic nuclides to geology began soon after the invention of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in 1977 and increased dramatically with the measurement of in situ–produced nuclides in mineral grains near Earth's surface in the 1980s. The past 25 yr have witnessed the development of cosmogenic nuclides from their initial detection to their prevalence today as a standard geochronological and geochemical tool. This review covers the major developments of the past 25 yr by comparing the state of the field in 1988 with that of today, and by identifying key advances in that period that moved the field forward. We emphasize the most commonly used in situ–produced nuclides measured by AMS for geological applications, but we also discuss other nuclides where their applications overlap. Our review covers AMS instrumentation, cosmogenic nuclide production rates, the methods of surface exposure dating, measurement of erosion and weathering, and burial dating, and meteoric 10Be.—In memoriam: Devendra Lal (1929–2012), whose vision inspired the field. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.