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High-Resolution 14C Dating of Organic Deposits Using Natural Atmospheric 14C Variations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Bas Van Geel
Affiliation:
Hugo de Vries Laboratorium, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Willem G Mook
Affiliation:
Hugo de Vries Laboratorium, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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The occurrence of atmospheric 14C variations complicates calibration, ie, the translation of 14C ages into real calendar ages. The procedure of wiggle matching, however, allows very precise calibration, by matching known 14C variations with wiggles in the floating chronology. In principle, wiggle matching can also be applied to a series of 14C dates from organic (peat) deposits. Where, in general, 14C ages are required at short distances and on small samples, dating by 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is required.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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