Title | Variability in radiocarbon ages of individual organic compounds from marine sediments |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 1997 |
Authors | Eglinton, TI, BenitezNelson, BC, Pearson, A, McNichol, AP, Bauer, JE, Druffel, ERM |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 277 |
Issue | 5327 |
Pagination | 796-799 |
Date Published | Aug 8 |
ISSN | 0036-8075 |
Accession Number | WOS:A1997XQ24700037 |
Abstract | Organic carbon (OC) from multiple sources can be delivered contemporaneously to aquatic sediments. The influence of different OC inputs on carbon-14-based sediment chronologies is illustrated in the carbon-14 ages of purified, source-specific (biomarker) organic compounds from near-surface sediments underlying two contrasting marine systems, the Black Sea and the Arabian Sea, In the Black Sea, isotopic heterogeneity of n-alkanes indicated that OC was contributed from both fossil and contemporary sources. Compounds reflecting different source inputs to the Arabian Sea exhibit a 10,000-year range in conventional carbon-14 ages. Radiocarbon measurements of biomarkers of marine photoautotrophy enable sediment chronologies to be constructed independent of detrital OC influences. |
DOI | 10.1126/science.277.5327.796 |