Rapid, high-resolution C-14 chronology of ooids

TitleRapid, high-resolution C-14 chronology of ooids
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsBeaupré, SR, Roberts, ML, Burton, JR, Summons, RE
JournalGEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
Volume159
Pagination126-138
Date PublishedJUN 15
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN0016-7037
Abstract

Ooids are small, spherical to ellipsoidal grains composed of concentric layers of CaCO3 that could potentially serve as biogeochemical records of the environments in which they grew. Such records, however, must be placed in the proper temporal context. Therefore, we developed a novel acidification system and employed an accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) with a gas accepting ion source to obtain radiocarbon (C-14) chronologies extending radially through ooids within one 8-h workday. The method was applied to ooids from Highborne Cay, Bahamas and Shark Bay, Australia, yielding reproducible C-14 chronologies, as well as constraints on the rates and durations of ooid growth and independent estimates of local C-14 reservoir ages. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI10.1016/j.gca.2015.03.009