Radiocarbon, sup 13 C and sup 15 N analysis of fossil bone: Removal of humates with XAD-2 resin

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(88)90128-7· OSTI ID:5151954

Stafford, Jr, T W ^[1]; Brendel, K; Duhamel, R C ^[2]

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1. Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC (USA)
2. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson (USA)

Humic acids are the predominant source of error in the {sup 14}C and stable isotope analysis of fossil bone organic matter. XAD-2 resin will quantitatively remove humates and give the highest yields of protein from bones with variable types of preservation. Decalcified bone, gelatin and base-leached residues can vary up to 5{per thousand} for {delta}{sup 13}C and by 1{per thousand} on {delta}{sup 15}N relative to XAD-treated fractions. Simultaneous analysis of {sup 14}C age, {delta}{sup 13}C and {delta}{sup 15}N is recommended because each isotope value can be independently affected by the bone's diagenetic history. Radiocarbon analysis is the most sensitive and {delta}{sup 15}N is least sensitive for detecting exogenous organic matter. The uncertainty of analyses on the best pretreated protein is {plus minus} 0.5{per thousand} for both {delta}{sup 13}C and {delta}{sup 15}N and is larger than previous estimates. The accuracy for all isotope analyses will be better assessed by using individual amino acids instead of total collagenous residues. Inaccurate {sup 14}C dates on severely degraded bone are an indication that this class of fossils may be unsuitable for any isotopic analysis.

• OSTI ID: 5151954
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 52:9; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ACCURACY
AGE ESTIMATION
ANIMAL TISSUES
BODY
BONE TISSUES
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
COLLAGEN
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DEMINERALIZATION
DIAGENESIS
DISSOLUTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HUMIC ACIDS
ISOTOPE DATING
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
REMOVAL
RESIDUES
SCLEROPROTEINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TISSUES