Alabama Gulf Coast groundwaters: 4He and 14C as groundwater-dating tools

TitleAlabama Gulf Coast groundwaters: 4He and 14C as groundwater-dating tools
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsCarey, A, Dowling, CB, Poreda, RJ
JournalGeology
Volume32
Issue4
Pagination289-292
Keywords14C, 4He, age dating, Baldwin County Alabama, groundwater
Abstract

Analyses of 4He and 14C in groundwaters from a Miocene quartz aquifer on the Alabama Gulf Coast show the usefulness of 4He for dating these Holocene groundwaters. In this aquifer system of low alkalinities and low pHs, radiocarbon ages can be used without model correction. The groundwaters studied ranged from 42.3% to 95.5% modern carbon and yielded uncorrected ages of 375–6790 yr. Radiogenic 4He ages ranged from >50–7500 yr.

DOI10.1130/G20081.2