U-series dating of impure carbonates: An isochron technique using total-sample dissolution

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
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Abstract

U-series dating is a well-established technique for age determination of Late Quaternary carbonates. Materials of sufficient purity for nominal dating, however, are not as common as materials with mechanically inseparable aluminosilicate detritus. Detritus contaminates the sample with extraneous Th. We propose that correction for contamination is best accomplished with the isochron technique using total sample dissolution (TSD). Experiments were conducted on artificial mixtures of natural detritus and carbonate and on an impure carbonate of known age. Results show that significant and unpredictable transfer of radionuclides occur from the detritus to the leachate in commonly used selective leaching procedures. The effects of correcting via leachate-residue pairs and isochron plots were assessed. Isochrons using TSD gave best results, followed by isochron plots of leachates only.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title U-series dating of impure carbonates: An isochron technique using total-sample dissolution
Series title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(91)90011-S
Volume 55
Issue 2
Year Published 1991
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 12 p.
First page 543
Last page 554
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