Cratons are the regions that form the geological core of continents. They are largely thought to be stable over timescales of millions of years, but an emerging view suggests these regions may be more dynamic than previously thought, experiencing episodes of burial by kilometers of sediment and later exhumation. This burial and exhumation history is often studied using dating methods based on radioactive decay, but this is challenging as radioactive decay can damage crystals and variably affect the ages of dated minerals. This project aims to produce a new dataset of mineral ages from the craton in Finland (Fennoscandia) and a new numerical model that simulates the effects of radiation damage to quantify the exhumation history of the craton. Ultimately, the project will link craton exhumation to dynamic processes in the Earth and provide insight to address future societal challenges, such as possible earthquake hazards in these regions and the safe long-term storage of nuclear waste.

2023

2027