Application of Double and Triple Dating of Zircons to Sediment Provenance Studies and to Quantifying Recycling in Sedimentary Rocks

Double and triple dating are ANU-Yale breakthroughs in detrital zircon geochronology that will revolutionise sedimentary provenance studies, and will facilitate the first quantitative measurements of the amount of recycling in sediments. The new methods will render the conventional U/Pb dating of detrital zircons obsolete as a method of tracing the source of sediments and become an important growth area in the earth sciences. Double and triple dating also have important applications in oil exploration and in understanding the factors that control erosion. It is important that this project be funded so that Australia can maintain its lead in this exciting new field.