Surface exposure dating: Review and critical evaluation

Ronald Dorn, F. M. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The past decade has seen the development and application of over a dozen new methods for quantitative age-determinations of geomorphic surfaces. Some surface exposure dating methods are numerical, including the accumulation of cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 14C, 26Al, 36Cl, and 41Ca, accumulation of cosmogenic stable nuclides 3He and 21Ne, 14C dating of organic matter encapsulated in rock coatings, and dendrogeomorphology. Calendar ages are obtained by dendrogeomorphological analysis. Calibrated ages can be obtained by analysis of rock-varnish chemistry, lichenometry, weathering, and soils. Various methods can be used in combination to overcome individual limitations. Whereas conventional methods provide age control on stratigraphic profiles, surface-exposure dating methods are especially suitable for geographic problems, such as analyzing not only temporal, but also spatial variations in the rates of geomorphic processes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)303-333
Number of pages31
JournalPhysical Geography
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Cosmogenic nuclides
  • Geochronology
  • Geomorphology
  • Process
  • Quaternary
  • Rock varnish
  • Soils
  • Surface exposure dating
  • Weathering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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