Development of Dating Techniques

We are developing dating techniques to understand geological events such as fault movements, volcanic eruptions, and igneous activity. These methods are essential for the study on the long-term stability of the geological environment.

For example, by measuring carbon isotopes (¹²C, ¹³C, and ¹⁴C) in plant fragments using an accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS), we can estimate the age of sediments. We also date minerals like zircon in igneous rocks to reveal the cooling history of magma and determine the origin of sediments, using a laser ablation mass spectrometer(e.g., U–Pb method).