Mass spectrometric sup 230 Th- sup 234 U- sup 238 U dating of the Devils Hole calcite vein

Journal Article · Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.258.5080.284· OSTI ID:7225688

Ludwig, K R; Simmons, K R; Szabo, B J; Riggs, A C ^[1]; Winograd, I J; Landwehr, J M ^[2]; Hoffman, R J ^[3]

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1. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
2. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
3. U.S. Geological Survey, Carson City, NV (United States)

The Devils Hole calcite vein contains a long-term climatic record, but requires accurate chronologic control for its interpretation. Mass-spectrometric U-series ages for samples from core DH-11 yielding {sup 230}Th ages with precisions ranging from less than 1,000 years (2{sigma}) for samples younger than {approximately}140 ka (thousands of years ago) to less than 50,000 years for the oldest samples ({approximately}566 ka). The {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U ages could be determined to a precision of {approximately}20,000 years for all ages. Calcite accumulated continuously from 566 ka until {approximately}60 ka at an average rate of 0.7 millimeter per 10{sup 3} years. The precise agreement between replicate analyses and the concordance of the {sup 230}Th/{sup 238}U and {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U ages for the oldest samples indicate that the DH-11 samples were closed systems and validate the dating technique in general.

• OSTI ID: 7225688
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 258:5080; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CALCITE
ISOTOPE DATING
CLIMATIC CHANGE
MONITORING
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
ACTINIDE ISO
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AGE ESTIMATION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBONATE MINERALS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MAGNESIUM 28 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
MINERALS
NEON 24 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SPECTROSCOPY
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
THORIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
540110*
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)