[I] Terrestrial Ages of Antarctic and Hot Desert Meteorites Using Carbon-14 and Other Cosmogenic Radionuclides

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Special session: [OA] Antarctic meteorites, Thur. 5 Dec. / 3F Multipurpose conference room, National Institute of Polar Researc

“CLOCK IN THE ROCK” – IN-SITU C-14 ROCK SURFACE EXPOSURE DATING APPLICATIONS

Cosmic rays interact not only with the atmosphere, but also with material at the surface of the Earth. Thus C-14 can be produced directly in a rock surface by the effect of cosmic-ray neutron effects. The goal of the research is to develop the capability of the Hertelendi Laboratory for Environmental Sciences (HEKAL) in the field of cosmogenic radionuclides produced in situ by the action of cosmic radiation. Our aim is to construct a small line for the extraction of cosmogenic C-14 from quartz, making a system compatible with the online capabilities of the new MICADAS accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) at HEKAL in Debrecen. We have tested the chemical blank level, cross contamination effect and reproducibility of MICADAS gas ion source application in in-situ rock surface exposure dating

Cosmogenic C-14 in Antarctic and non-Antarctic meteorites and lunar samples

We were able to develop measurements of C-14 in meteorites as a useful tool for estimates of terrestrial age. Prior to this accomplishment, only a few measurements of C-14 terrestrial ages had been made. The sample sizes were larger, and there had been no systematic study of the various parameters affecting production of C-14, such as depth dependence, and the production cross sections for C-14 from spallation amounted to a few data points. Presently, C-14 ages are an accepted terrestrial age estimate in the meteorite community, whereas before this work the few data available were difficult to interpret. We have obtained terrestrial ages not only on groups of meteorites from different geographic areas but also information on unique meteorites from particularly interesting groups, such as meteorites originating from the Moon, or SNC meteorites, which many researchers believe are derived from Mars

A Simplified In Situ

From the 20th International Radiocarbon Conference held in Kona, Hawaii, USA, May 31-June 3, 2009.We describe the design, construction, and testing of a new, simplified in situ radiocarbon extraction system at the University of Arizona. Blank levels for the new system are low ((234 +- 11) x 10^3 atoms (1 sigma; n = 7)) and stable. The precision of a given measurement depends on the concentration of 14C, but is typically <5% for concentrations of 100 x 10^3 atoms g^(-1) or more. The new system is relatively small and easy to construct, costs significantly less than the original in situ 14C extraction system at Arizona, and lends itself to future automation.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

Extreme Solar Events: Setting up a Paradigm

The Sun is magnetically active and often produces eruptive events on different energetic and temporal scales. Until recently, the upper limit of such events was unknown and believed to be roughly represented by direct instrumental observations. However, two types of extreme events were discovered recently: extreme solar energetic particle events on the multi-millennial time scale and super-flares on sun-like stars. Both discoveries imply that the Sun might rarely produce events, called extreme solar events (ESE), whose energy could be orders of magnitude greater than anything we have observed during recent decades. During the years following these discoveries, great progress has been achieved in collecting observational evidence, uncovering new events, making statistical analyses, and developing theoretical modelling. The ESE paradigm lives and is being developed. On the other hand, many outstanding questions still remain open and new ones emerge. Here we present an overview of the current state of the art and the forming paradigm of ESE from different points of view: solar physics, stellar–solar projections, cosmogenic-isotope data, modelling, historical data, as well as terrestrial, technological and societal effects of ESEs. Special focus is paid to open questions and further developments. This review is based on the joint work of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) team #510 (2020–2022)

Adoption and evaluation of a sample pre-treatment protocol for radiocarbon dating of cremated bones at HEKAL

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Adoption and evaluation of a sample pretreatment protocol for radiocarbon dating of cremated bones at HEKAL

A comparative study was undertaken to adopt and evaluate a radiocarbon (14C) preparation procedure for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements of cremated bones at our laboratory, including different types of archaeological samples (cremated bone, bone, charcoal, charred grain). All 14C analyses were performed using the EnvironMICADAS AMS instrument at the Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies (HEKAL) and the ancillary analyses were also performed at the Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI). After the physical and chemical cleaning of cremated bones, CO2 was extracted by acid hydrolysis followed by sealed-tube graphitization and 14C measurement. The supplementary δ13C measurements were also performed on CO2 gas while FTIR was measured on the powder fraction. Based on the FTIR and 14C analyses, our chemical pretreatment protocol was successful in removing contamination from the samples. Good reproducibility was obtained for the 0.2–0.3 mm fraction of blind-tested cremated samples and a maximum age difference of only 150 yr was found for the remaining case studies. This confirms the reliability of our procedure for 14C dating of cremated bones. However, in one case study, the age difference of 300 yr between two cremated fragments originating from the same urn shows that other processes affecting the cremated samples in the post-burial environment can substantially influence the 14C age, so caution must be exercised

[I] Why do we find so many meteorites on the Nansen blue ice field and where else could we look?

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Special session: [S] Future plan of Antarctic research: Towards phase X of the Japanese Antarctic Research Project (2022-2028) and beyond, Tue. 3 Dec. / 2F Auditorium, National Institute of Polar Researc