| Geochronology | Thermochronology |
|---|---|
| Determines the age at which a rock or mineral formed. | Determines when a rock cooled. |
| Answers the question, “When was it formed?” | Answers the question, “When did it reach a certain temperature?” |
| Focuses on events such as crystallization, metamorphism, or volcanism. | Focuses on exhumation, erosion, and tectonic uplift. |
| Generally operates at high temperatures. | Generally operates at low to intermediate temperatures. |
| Reconstructs the chronology of geological events. | Reconstructs the thermal and exhumation history. |