Intercomparison of C-14 Dating of Wood Samples at Lund University and Eth-Zurich Ams Facilities: Extraction, Graphitization, and Measurement

Summary, in English

We conducted an interlaboratory comparison between our radiocarbon-related research group at Lund University and the established ETH-Zurich facility to test the quality of the results obtained in Lund and to identify sources of potential background differences and scatter. We did find differences between the 2 laboratories in the contributions of chemical preparation, graphitization, and measurements to the overall background. The resulting overall background is, however, almost similar. Multiple measurements on 2 wood samples of known calendar age yield consistent and accurate C-14 ages in both laboratories. However, one of our known samples indicates that IntCal09 is similar to 38 +/- 16 C-14 BP too young at 7020 calendar yr BP, which is consistent with one of the raw data sets contributing to IntCal09. Overall, our results show that a systematic approach to compare the different steps involved in C-14 age determination is a useful exercise to pinpoint targets for improvement of lab routines and assess interlaboratory differences. These effects do not necessarily become apparent when comparing C-14 measurements that integrate over the whole process of preparation and measurement of different laboratories.

• Författare: Florian Adolphi; D. Guettler; L. Wacker; Göran Skog; Raimund Muscheler
• Avdelning/ar: Kvartärgeologi; MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system; BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
• Publiceringsår: 2013
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 391-400
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Radiocarbon
• Volym: 55
• Issue: 2-3
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Ämne: Geology
• Aktiv: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0033-8222