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Small Sample 14C Dating by Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Henry Polach
Affiliation:
Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra 2601, Australia
Lauri Kaihola
Affiliation:
Wallac Oy, PO Box 10, 20101 Turku 10, Finland
Steve Robertson
Affiliation:
Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra 2601, Australia
Herbert Haas
Affiliation:
Southern Methodist University, Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, Dallas, Texas 75275
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Abstract

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Small sample 14C dating is tested using conventional as well as high-resolution low-level liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometers. Contrasted are the results obtained dating ∼25, 125 and 250mg of elemental carbon in standard size counting vials (3mL) and 0.3mL teflon and quartz vials. It is demonstrated that the improved performance of the 0.3mL counting vials enables just adequate resolution of 25mg and very good resolution of 100mg carbon samples both at Modern and Old age limits when the determination is made in a high-resolution low-level LS spectrometer.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

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