Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jimmy Higgins · 05-12-2003, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Paolo Mietto and colleagues from the University of Padua studied the trackways, known to locals as "devil's trails", and say they are particularly detailed.

The prints were found in the western margin of the Roccamonfina volcanic complex in southern Italy, in a pyroclastic flow dated between 385,000 and 325,000 years ago.

I'll wait for the eggheads to scrutinize it before I break out the champaigne.

SULPHUR · 05-12-2003, 07:31 AM

What dating method was was used. I cannot afford a subscipton to nature.Was it dosemetric or ESR .

Coragyps · 05-12-2003, 08:26 AM

Potassium-argon or argon-argon, I'll bet, along with some stratigraphy:

Quote:

The stratigraphic location and age of the trampled layer are supported by lithological comparison with the well-documented radiometric-dated series of the volcanic complex1. The development of the Roccamonfina volcano can be divided into three main phases2: the first, eruptive phase (630�385 kyr), which ended with a caldera-forming event; a second in which volcanic�tectonic events formed the Brown Leucitic Tuff (385�325 kyr) as well as later pyroclastic flow units; and a third that saw the formation of trachybasaltic lavas and ended about 50,000 years ago.

From the article: Nature 422, 133 (2003) : the authors state that the dates are "provisional." But they are still older than Noah.

SULPHUR · 05-12-2003, 08:40 AM

K-Ar dating that age is not as accurate as compared with the two I mentioned.

ps418 · 05-12-2003, 09:44 AM

Actually, ESR (electron spin resonance), TL (thermoluminescence), and OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) are examples of dosimetric dating techniques.

I don't know if OSL is being used to date pyroclastics, but I know that TL is, and its accuracy is at least as good as K-Ar (but not as good as Ar-Ar). See Standardization of Thermoluminescence Dating of Volcanic Rocks. Advances in ESR Applications, vol.18 pp.177-179, (2002). PDF I doubt that the deposit in the paper was dated with Ar-Ar, given the large margin of error and the statement that the date is provisional.

Patrick

SULPHUR · 05-13-2003, 03:51 AM

Thank you for correcting me but I am always suspcious of the dating method and who carried it out .

05-12-2003, 07:31 AM	#2
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	dating What dating method was was used. I cannot afford a subscipton to nature.Was it dosemetric or ESR .

05-12-2003, 08:40 AM	#4
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	dating K-Ar dating that age is not as accurate as compared with the two I mentioned.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-12-2003, 09:44 AM	#5
ps418 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 1,840	Actually, ESR (electron spin resonance), TL (thermoluminescence), and OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) are examples of dosimetric dating techniques. I don't know if OSL is being used to date pyroclastics, but I know that TL is, and its accuracy is at least as good as K-Ar (but not as good as Ar-Ar). See Standardization of Thermoluminescence Dating of Volcanic Rocks. Advances in ESR Applications, vol.18 pp.177-179, (2002). PDF I doubt that the deposit in the paper was dated with Ar-Ar, given the large margin of error and the statement that the date is provisional. Patrick

05-13-2003, 03:51 AM	#6
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	Thank you for correcting me but I am always suspcious of the dating method and who carried it out .

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.