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Using HI Narrow Self-Absorption in conjunction with molecular tracers (OH, 13CO, 12CO, and C18O) along with
dust extinction and IRAS data we are now able to confidently measure the HI/H2 ratio of dark molecular cloud cores which have not yet begun forming stars.
Along with numerical models we can estimate the chemical ages of such clouds. We present a survey of 36 dark cloud cores along with preliminary age estimates.
As a result we are able to place limits on the time scales for cloud collapse thus yielding insight into the significance of turbulence and ambipolar diffusion
in star formation.
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