Track formation mechanisms in minerals

Abstract

The main features of heavy-ion track registration in nonconductor minerals are presented. In particular, experimental results obtained recently by several authors are used to identify those features which are directly related to the radiation damage mechanism producing the tracks, rather than to the decoration process employed to observe them. Following a brief discussion of the various atomic species formed along the trajectory of an ion in a solid, a discussion is given of the adequacy of various radiation-damage theories in explaining the formation of tracks in minerals. It is concluded that the ‘ion explosion spike’ model proposed by Fleischer, Price and Walker⁽¹⁾ is still the best approximation for describing the formation of heavy-ion tracks in minerals.