Radiocarbon Dating
Carbon extraction line. Sample CO2 gas is reduced to
pure carbon as graphite precipitated on iron powder
for dating by accelerator mass spectrometry.
pure carbon as graphite precipitated on iron powder
for dating by accelerator mass spectrometry.
Why is this research important?
Radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an important analytical method utilized in climate change, land use change, ecosystems and natural hazards research. As a chronology tool, 14C dating can provide ages for samples as old as 50,000 years. The small sample size capability of AMS radiocarbon dating greatly expands the potential for dating geologic material previously undateable using older proportional counting methods. The Reston radiocarbon laboratory performs research in the accurate 14C dating of different fractions of carbon that can be isolated from organic compounds such as sediments, soils and peat, which are often difficult to date reliably.
Principal Investigator: John P. McGeehin
Project Team: Timothy Muzik