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C-14 content of ten meteorites measured by tandem accelerator mass spectrometryMeasurements of C-14 in three North American and seven Antarctic meteorites show in most cases that this cosmogenic isotope, which is tightly bound, was separated from absorbed atmospheric radiocarbon by stepwise heating extractions. The present upper limit to age determination by the accelerator method varies from 50,000 to 70,000 years, depending on the mass and carbon content of the sample. The natural limit caused by cosmic ray production of C-14 in silicate rocks at 2000 m elevation is estimated to be 55,000 + or - 5000 years. An estimation is also made of the 'weathering ages' of the Antarctic meteorites from the specific activity of loosely bound CO2 which is thought to be absorbed from the terrestrial atmosphere. Accelerator measurements are found to agree with previous low level counting measurements, but are more sensitive and precise.
Document ID
19840039876
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Brown, R. M.
(Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Ontario, Canada)
Andrews, H. R.
(Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Ontario, Canada)
Ball, G. C.
(Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Ontario, Canada)
Burn, N.
(Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Ontario, Canada)
Imahori, Y.
(Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. Chalk River Ontario, Canada)
Milton, J. C. D.
(Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada)
Fireman, E. L.
(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume: 67
Issue: 1 Ja
ISSN: 0012-821X
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
84A22663
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-09-015-145
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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