Abstract: This article uses the musings sparked by an archaeologist’s exploration of the Zigong dinosaur site in Sichuan as a narrative framework to introduce the basic principles of the U-Pb dating method. It covers sample collection, post-processing analytical methods, and data interpretation, providing a comprehensive overview of U-Pb dating. Additionally, the article highlights the dinosaur culture and industry in the Zigong region, showcasing the allure of this dinosaur capital.

Key words: U-Pb dating, Isotope geochronology, Geochemistry, Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, High-resolution ion microprobe