Dear Colleagues,
The 2005 joint meeting of the Geological Association of Canada, the
Mineralogical Association of Canada, the Canadian Society of Petroleum
Geologists and the Canadian Society of Soil Sciences will take place in
Halifax, Nova Scotia from May 14 to 18, 2005 (<http://www.halifax2005.ca/>
www.halifax2005.ca). As part of this meeting, we are organizing the following
thermochronology short course (for non-specialists) and two associated Special
Sessions, sponsored by the newly formed Isotope Science Division of the
Geological Association of Canada and described in more detail below.
We invite you to give a presentation at the sessions; both oral and poster
presentations are possible (abstract deadline is January 17, 2005). In addition, feel
free to pass this information on to any interested colleagues.
For more information, please contact any of the convenors: James Lee (Queen's
University, [log in to unmask]), Mike Villeneuve (Geol. Survey of Canada,
[log in to unmask]) or Marcos Zentilli (Dalhousie University,
[log in to unmask])
Sincerely,
Jim Lee (on behalf of the convenors)
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SHORT COURSE May 14-15, 2005 - Thermochronology: New Advances and its
Application to Geoscience
The last few years have witnessed dramatic advances in our fundamental
understanding of the principles and applications of isotopic analysis to delineation of
thermal histories. In particular, many of the assumptions underlying the interpretation
of these analyses are in the process of being developed, questioned and revised,
resulting in more detailed and accurate assessments of thermal histories. This short
course will provide an oversight of the theoretical principles behind
thermochronological analysis and will outline the assumptions, strengths and
weaknesses of both traditional and emerging analytical techniques and models. The
course will also highlight application of these methods over the entire spectrum of
high to low-temperature regimes. The Short Course will be oriented towards the
practicing professional geologist and graduate students rather than the dating
specialist; no previous knowledge of thermochronology is expected.
Tentative List of Speakers (pending confirmation):
Jean Braun, Mike Cosca, Rob Creaser, Bill Davis, Ken Farley, Tony Hurford, Dale
Issler, Becky Jamieson, Barry Kohn, Jim Lee, Ian Parsons, Mike Villeneuve, Marcos
Zentilli
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Thermochronology Special Session Part 1: Application of low temperature studies to
tectonics, sedimentary basins and landscape evolution
Numerous dating techniques with a range of well-calibrated retention temperatures
have improved the reliability of time-temperature history reconstructions in tectonic
studies. The recent development of relatively low-temperature thermochronometers
such as FT and (U-Th)/He, and refinements of numerical modeling have extended
the range of processes that can be studied to the realm of basinal diagenesis and
landscape evolution. This special session will showcase new analytical and
modelling developments, and a wide range of applications, including neotectonics,
metallogeny and petroleum.
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Thermochronology Special Session Part 2: Application of high-temperature studies
to tectonics and crustal evolution
Thermochronology has come to the fore as a powerful tool for deriving temperature-
time histories of geological terranes. In particular, recent refinements in the analysis
and interpretation of higher-temperature thermochronometers from such isotopic
systems as 40Ar/39Ar, U/Pb, and Re/Os have led to the widespread application of
thermochronology in a variety of geological studies. This special session will
highlight new advances and applications of thermochronology in studies of tectonics
and crustal evolution.
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