Cosmogenic isotope 36Cl - a new perspective for Quaternary chronostratigraphy of Poland

Abstract

The new method of absolute dating by (cosmogenic isotope ³⁶Cl) is considered. The method is based on measuring concentrations of isotope ³⁶Cl which is produced in terrestrial rocks exposed at the surface to cosmic radiation. The presence of ³⁶Cl in most of the rocks and its long half-life make it useful in determination of the age of landforms and sediments in different depositional environments within the time range from a few thousand years to about one million years. The initial samples collected in the Polish Tatra Mts. are being analyzed in the U.S.A. The authors believe that cosmogenic ³⁶Cl method becomes a new important tool in Quaternary chronostratigraphy of Poland.