Protactinium-231 dating of carbonates by thermal ionization mass spectrometry: Implications for quaternary climate change

Journal Article · Fri May 02 00:00:00 EDT 1997 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.276.5313.782· OSTI ID:476673

Edwards, R L; Cheng, H ^[1]; Murrell, M T; Goldstein, S J ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

Measurement of protactinium-231 ({sup 231}Pa) in carbonates by thermal ionization mass spectroscopy yields {sup 231}Pa ages that are more than 10 times more precise than those determined by decay counting. Carbonates between 10 and 250,000 years old can now be dated with {sup 231}Pa methods. Barbados corals that have identical {sup 231}Pa and thorium-230 ({sup 230}Th) ages indicate that the timing of sea level change over parts of the last glacial cycle is consistent with the predictions of the Astronomical Theory. Two Devils Hole calcite subsamples record identical {sup 231}Pa and {sup 230}Th ages, suggesting that the chronology of this climate record is accurate. 24 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 476673
• Journal Information: Science, Vol. 276, Issue 5313; Other Information: PBD: 2 May 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
QUATERNARY PERIOD
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
SEA LEVEL
CARBONATES
AGE ESTIMATION
PROTACTINIUM 231
CORALS