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

3 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
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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