Excess carbon‐14 abundances in uranium ores: Possible evidence for emission from uranium‐series isotopes

D. Barker, A. J.T. Jull, D. J. Donahue

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Significant levels of 14C have been detected in uranium‐bearing minerals using the tandem accelerator mass spectrometer at the University of Arizona. The amount of 14C detected in a given mineral is proportional to the concentration of uranium in that mineral. The average value of 14C atoms/uranium atom is (2.2±0.5)×10−15 (2σ). These data are consistent with the assumption of direct 14C emission from one or more nuclei in the 238U decay chain with a branching ratio of 1.0 to 2.0×10−9, relative to alpha decay. The uncertainty results from the possible production of 14C from 11B(α,p)14C.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)737-740
Number of pages4
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume12
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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