Quaternary Dating Methods

Mike Walker does us a huge favor in writing such a detailed, technical account of modern dating methods that range from tree rings (dendochronology) to isotopes (radiometric dating). He starts off with a history on dating methods and the search to find a reliable "clock" that range from using chronologies to isotopes. He then talks about certainties, precision, accuracy of dating methods and how scientists decide when to trust and when not to trust a certain date resulting from an instrument or dating technique. Throughout the book, Mike Walker carries the reader through and describes instruments and machines used in dating methods like for example, the 5-Mv Accelerator Mass Spectrometer used for Radiocarbon Dating objects.It should be noted that this book deals with methods used for up to the Quaternary period dating, not beyond. That is, it is these methods are used for dates up to around 2.5 million years ago. No further.There are numerous examples that are in-depth, for each dating method discussed in the book. For example, actual tree ring data (dendochronology) used to detect and estimate climate changes throughout Europe, Asian, and North America. Or Radiocarbon dating examples such as results of a few skulls of Mexican Palaeo-Americans with confidence levels and also results of the estimated ages of the Shroud of Turin as a result of Radiocarbon Dating.Furthermore, Mike mentions and discusses the errors and examples of erroneous results from each of the dating methods found in this book. Also he discusses results that give way to certain philosophies such "apparent young age" results from U-Series dating. He is not afraid to talk about some conflicts within dating methods themselves such as 24 dates received for paintings at Cosquet Caves that range from 28,000 to 19,000 years ago. The interval of a 9,000 years means high uncertainty compared to the normal uncertainty ranges of less than 1,000 when the object is in the 1,000 to 60,000 years-ago ranges.Here is the general basic setup of the chapters:1. summary of Dating Methods themselves2. instruments or machines used to obtain the data3. problems and sources of error with the Dating methods4. applications and actual dating of land, artifacts, and hominidsOverall, there is lots of information here for anyone who is interested in how certain anyone can be about ages claimed in the fields of science. Bravo for Mike Walker.Here is a Chapter Synopsis of the whole book (not exhaustive):1. Dating Methods and the Quaternary- history of dating methods, precision and uncertainties2. Radiometric Dating: Radiocarbon Dating- radiocarbon measurement, sources of error, problematic materials, calibration, alternate Radiocarbon dating techniques, applications and usage and limits of use3. Radiometric Dating: Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radioactive Isotopes- Potassium-Argon Dating, Argon-Argon Dating, Uranium-Series Dating, Cosmetic Nuclide Dating, Lead-210 Dating, Caesium-137 Dating, Silicon-32 Dating, problems associated with all of these dating methods, applications and usage and limits of use4. Radiometric Dating: Radiation Exposure Dating- Luminescence Dating, Electron Spin Resonance Dating, Fission Track Dating, problems associated with these dating methods, applications and examples of usage and limits of use5. Dating Using Annually Banded Records- Dendochronology, Varve Chronology, Lichenometry, Annual Layers in Glacier Ice, Spleotherms, Corals, Molluscs, problems associated with these dating methods, applications and usage and limits of use6. Relative Dating Methods- Rock Surface Weathering, Obsidian Hydration Dating, Pedogenesis, Fossil Bone, Amino Acid Geochronology, problems associated with these dating methods, applications and usage and limits of use7. Techniques for Establishing Age Equivalence- Oxygen Isotope Chronostratigarphy, Tephrochronology, Palaeomagnetism, Palaeosols, problems associated with these methods, applications and usage and limits of use8. Dating the Future- Biomolecular datingHope this encourages people to buy this. This book too deserves a wide audience.For further reading on dating methods (mostly Radiometric) and their foundations please look at  Isotopes: Principles and Applications , Stable Isotope Geochemistry , Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry  and others.On a related note, anyone interested in the natural philosophy, evidence, and history of the age of the earth please read  The Age of the Earth , Ancient Earth, Ancient Skies: The Age of Earth and its Cosmic Surroundings , and also read  Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth: A Young-Earth Creationist Research Initiative  to balance the research by reading varying view points.

I read this book for general interest, and I highly recommend it. It is written in a clear style that can be understood with a modest background in science. The book is comprehensive, but it is kept interesting by the examples. I would never have guessed that radiocarbon dating has been applied to the carbon in iron implements and even to the mortar in buildings. Using overlapping patterns of growth rings, dating by tree rings has gone back 13,000 years. The science is fascinating and well-presented.

Great textbook