Since 1980, progress in research on the fission-track dating method and
its applications to earth and related sciences has been evaluated during
an International Workshop that takes place every four years. This volume
contains a selection of papers presented at the International Workshop
held in Gent (Belgium) from 26 to 30 August, 1996. Primarily the
articles will be of interest to the active fission-track scientists but
the combination of research papers and critical reviews that is
presented may also provide the interested non-specialist reader with a
valuable insight into the fission-track dating method and its role in
the earth sciences.
This reader will undoubtedly note the evolution that the method has
undergone during the last fifteen years, from a technique that was
debated in most of its facets to an established chronometric tool with
unique qualities in geothermochronology.