About Radiocarbon (1)

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About radiocarbon dating
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What is Radiocarbon Dating?

• Carbon-14 dating is a laboratory analysis that
  provides objective age estimates for carbon-based
  materials that originated from living organisms
  such as archaeological finds or geological
  deposits.

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Limitation

• Cannot be used for samples older than 60,000
  years
• (Reported as greater than 43,500 BP by Beta
  Analytic)

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Machines Used

• Liquid Scintillation Counter
• (LSC)

• Accelerator Mass Spectrometer
• (AMS)

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AMS is more Advanced than LSC

• AMS is more accurate and precise
• Sample sizes are smaller
• Analysis takes less time

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Why Measure d13C?

• To provide accurate and precise Carbon-14
  measurements, it is necessary to correct for
  isotopic fractionation using the stable
  isotopes 13C and 12C (d13C).
• Researchers should also find out whether the d13C
  was measured in the AMS or in an isotope ratio
  mass spectrometer (IRMS). If it is the AMS d13C,
  it cannot be used for dietary or metabolic
  pathway studies.

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• Information compiled by ISO 17025-accredited
  radiocarbon dating lab Beta Analytic.
• For more information, please visit
  https//www.radiocarbon.com.