Geochronology
The geochronology capability in ANSTO's Institute for Environmental Research specialise in the radiochemical separation of all significant isotopes of the natural uranium and thorium decay series. The facilities are capable of analysing samples to the lowest levels of radiometric detection and are routinely applied to samples of late Quaternary age (the last 350,000 years). Older samples in this range are dated using the uranium/thorium disequilibrium method whilst younger samples are dated using the lead-210 dating method. We also offer techniques such as caesium-137 and beryllium-7 analysis in addition to lead-210 for determining recent sediment ages.