The carbonate skeletons of small living corals collected in Spring 1981 from Cebu Island, the Philippines, had 14C activities up to 147% of recent standard. Similarly high values were found in the carbonate structure of three large coral heads, where the 14C content of six penetrating cores was measured. In these corals the activity of the outer parts grown since 1960 reached values as high as 155% (corrected for δ13C = − 25‰) while the inner part grown from 1860 to 1950 had values of 106 to 110%. The 14C content of corals should be ca 116% due to the atomic bomb effect and 95% before 1955. The samples were taken from the shore, exposed to tidal waters, so that local contamination is improbable. Organic samples collected from the same region showed normal 14C activity.

Samples of sediment cores from two lakes in the karst area of northwest Yugoslavia were analyzed. Both Lakes Kozjak and Prošće are in the Plitvice National Park, Central Croatia. 14C dating, sedimentologic, seismic, and isotopic studies, and distribution of diatoms are presented.

14C dating of lake marl revealed a uniforn sedimentation rate in Lake Prošće as opposed to Lake Kozjak. Both lake sediments belong to the Holocene period. 14C dating of lake sediment is in agreement with seismic profiles, sedimentologic analysis, and diatom frequency measurements both in an undisturbed as well as in a disturbed lake sediment.

Dense speleothem samples are considered as closed systems and are, therefore, possibilities for any dating method. Four dating methods (14C, U/Th, paleomagnetism, and electron spin resonance = ESR) were used for samples up to 1,000,000 yr old and taken along a vertical flowstone profile in the Heggen cave in West Germany. Also δ18O and δ13C analyses were carried out.

The reliability of the results of each method is dependent on the diagenetic processes that took place during the complex growth history of the flowstone. Speleothem growth was interrupted during glacial periods. During interglacial periods, at least the stalagmite growth rate was greater by one order of magnitude than during interstadial periods. During the periods of low interstadial growth rate various processes might have changed the 14C, 18O, and 13C concentrations, leaching might have removed uranium, recrystallization might have moved thorium several centimeters, and increased content of radon in the cave might have exaggerated the accumulated dose (AD) at the speleothem surface. As a result, 14C ages may be too small and U/Th as well as ESR data may be too large.

Two principal reasons for the inherent uncertainty in 14C dating of calcareous sediments such as tufa or those of lacustrine origin are the unknown initial 14C activity (Ao) of the sediment, mainly affecting younger (Holocene) samples, and contamination of older sediments with recent carbonate, causing 14C ages to be excessively young. To assess the contamination effect, samples of old tufa from the Riss/Würm interglacial were examined. These sediments contain essentially no 14C except that contributed by surface contamination. Tufa samples were crushed and grains ranging in size from <1 mm, 1 to 2mm, up to 4 to 5mm were separated for analysis; 2M HCl was then used to dissolve the samples in successive steps. 14C measurements indicated that each subsequent soluble fraction obtained from porous tufa gave a successively older age, indicating that the surface of the sample was contaminated by younger carbonates. No consistent effect of grain size on the 14C age was observed. Compact tufa proved to be less subject to contamination. 14C ages obtained on this material were also too young, yet older than the age obtained from porous tufa samples.

14C ages of interglacial tufa were cross-checked with the 230Th/234U dating method, using samples of very clean calcite which overlies the tufa blocks. Inferred 230Th/234U ages of the interglacial tufa (which had yielded 14C dates ranging from 25,000 to 37,000 yr) coincided with the last interglacial (Riss/Würm, Stage 5). Samples of Holocene tufa, in which contributions of recent 14C from surface contamination would pose less of a problem, yielded 14C and 230Th/234U dates which were in excellent agreement.

Results of measurements for 3 years (1981–1983) of 14C activity of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIG) in water samples from the Korana River, as well as that of recent tufa and aquatic plants, showed that 14C concentration increases from karst spring to the estuary. A model describing the increase of 14C activity was developed assuming that the increase is due to the exchange of the dissolved CO2 in stream water with atmospheric CO2 and to dissolution of CO2 from the decay of organic material and root respiration. It is possible to distinguish these two contributions by measuring the δ13C values of DIC in water. As expected, our data show that the exchange process between atmospheric CO2 and DIC dominates at rapids and waterfalls, while biologic contribution is much higher in lakes and along the lowland flow of the Korana River. Agreement between the calculated and the measured activities supports the proposed mechanisms of chemical and isotopic exchanges in stream waters.

Radiocarbon dating at the Arizona accelerator facility has improved substantially in the last three years. Since starting to use graphite targets (see Jull et al, 1986), we have been able to obtain routinely a precision of ca ± 1% (ca 80 yr) for relatively modern material. Our routine technique of tuning and operating the tandem accelerator mass spectrometer (TAMS) and our method of calculating 14C results are discussed in detail. Data on activity ratios of oxalic acid-II/oxalic-I are presented. Examples of the wide variety of projects on which we have collaborated are given. Brief discussions of three such projects are presented for our colleagues who were unable to attend this conference: an Arizona Indian archaeologic project, a study of megafaunal extinctions, and a study of the growth of phosphorite nodules on the sea floor off the Peruvian coast.

14C dates of carbonate and organic matter fractions are compared with a series of calcareous tufa samples from selected sites representing different geochemical environments and associated with different bedrocks. Results obtained in this study indicate values of apparent age ranging from 940 ± 110 yr for calcareous tufas associated with Pleistocene sediments to 2000 ± 110 yr and even ca 4000 yr for tufas from sites associated with Jurassic or Cretaceous limestone. It was found also that within each of the investigated sites the value of apparent age does not change significantly with the age of the tufa layer.

Major discordances between AMS 14C- and aspartic acid racemization (AAR)-deduced age estimates on bone samples have led to an examination of factors other than time and temperature that can fundamentally influence the degree of racemization observed in fossil bone. Our studies support previous suggestions that for many bone samples the chemical state of amino acids must be routinely considered if AAR-deduced age estimates are to be used to make meaningful chronologic inferences.

We present the results of measurements of 26Al and 10Be produced in situ in 12 samples of Libyan Desert Glass by cosmic rays during the last ten million years. Based on the variability of the concentrations of 10Be and of the 26Al/10Be ratios we measured, we conclude that individual fragments of glass have experienced different exposure histories, implying several major redistributions of the glass within the past 106 years. The 26Al and 10Be concentrations are inconsistent with the theoretical estimates of the rates of in situ production. We estimate minimum production rates of 70 atoms g-1 yr-1 and 10 atoms g-1 yr-1 for 26Al and 10Be, respectively, produced in quartz at sea level between 60–90° latitude. Despite the present uncertainty in the rates of production, we feel that these results show clearly the effectiveness of in situ produced 26Al and 10Be in studying earth-surface processes.

A method of chemical separation and purification of chloride from relatively small samples (500 to 2100g) of glacial ice is presented. With this procedure the first successful measurements of pre-bomb levels of 36Cl in Greenland ice have been made. Emphasis is placed on methods of reducing sulfur, which causes interference in the accelerator mass spectrometry, and in maximizing the yield. Data regarding the selection of materials for sample holders and the use of metal powders for extending the lifetime of the sample are also presented.

The 14C dates of Kashmir loess-palaeosols form five clusters. The dates, mineral magnetic, stable isotopic, and pollen data help decipher major climatic oscillations as distinct from the minor ones.

Even though the reliability of equipment has improved, the quality of measurement should still be checked. This task may be performed by a microcomputer with the physicist's intervention only when an error in measurement is detected.

The performance of six laboratories with the capacity to date small samples (4 AMS and 2 small gas-counter laboratories) has been compared using 100mg samples of textiles from Ancient Egypt and Peru, with the British Museum laboratory acting as independent coordinator. This intercomparison was one of normal practices and has demonstrated that a coherent series of results can be obtained when several laboratories undertake blindfold measurements, although the occurrence of outliers emphasizes the continuing need for the dating of unusually important or controversial samples to be undertaken by a group of laboratories.

Despite the great potential of the AMS technique for 14C dating of milligram samples, the use of multiple miniature counter systems is still promising. Investment costs are relatively low and long-term financing of age determinations can be held within bounds. We have developed a 14C dating system containing 10 miniature counters for $30,000, whereas commercial systems usually cost more than $ 150,000. Counting is not quite as good as that of the technically more sophisticated commercial systems, but the disadvantage for routine work is not significant. CO2 preparation and purification take less than 30 minutes of active work including measurement and data evaluation. The cost of one age determination on a 22mg sample is about $35.00.

Inter-vial variation in background of the glass vials used in liquid scintillation counting can introduce appreciable errors into 14C measurements. Our aim was to measure the background in each of 50 glass vials, under the same conditions as far as possible, in order to find a self-consistent set for use in 14C dating. The criteria, statistical tests, and possible errors introduced by not making such checks are discussed.

A portable gamma spectrometer has been used to survey three locations that are part of the London Underground Transport System (the “tube”). Up to an order of magnitude reduction in the cosmic ray flux was observed relative to the laboratory level. The likely reduction in background count rate achievable by underground siting of currently used Packard and LKB liquid scintillation counters is considered. It is noted that in the present, surface usage for radiocarbon dating, the background count rate of low-potassium glass vials in the LKB is not substanially higher than that of PTFE vials.

The effects of different measurement conditions and sample preparation in liquid scintillation counting of benzene for 14C dating were tested. The goal of this work was to find the highest figure of merit through the variation of scintillation cocktail to benzene ratio, and measurement windows. Measurements were performed on 5ml of benzene plus increasing quantities of scintillation cocktail (7g of PPO and 0.5g of Me2POPOP in 1L of scintillation-grade toluene). Spectra of both background and standard were obtained and the counting windows selected for the highest figure of merit (Q). The best condition was 5ml of benzene plus 0.75ml of scintillation cocktail. This spectrum is compared with that of 1) pure toluene-14C plus cocktail, and 2) pure benzene-14C in which the equivalent amount of PPO and Me2POPOP present in 0.75ml of cocktail was dissolved. A correlation between the increase of the amount of cocktail and the broadening of the spectrum was observed. The effect of wrapping the upper part of the counting vial with aluminum foil to reduce background was also tested. A drastic background increment was observed in the low energy range, for unwrapped vials; the standard spectrum showed a broadening and a lower counting efficiency which reduced the figure of merit.

Miniature gas counters have been in use since the early 1960s for the measurement of 14C but were for a long time seen as suitable for providing approximate indications of activity rather than measurements for more precise dates. In recent years the need for better measurements of small samples has posed a continuing challenge for the 14C laboratories. This paper examines how the challenge has been met across the world using conventional beta decay counting techniques and proportional gas counters of 50ml volume or less. A survey is made of the rise of these techniques and attention paid to the solution through modern technology of earlier problems. Some practical systems, now in routine use, are described and consideration is given to the future for miniature counter measurements. Such systems have several attractive features that will guarantee their usefulness in 14C measurements for the future.

Extremely low background count rates are a necessary condition for both the measurement of 39Ar concentrations in ground and ocean water and of 14C activities in small samples using gas proportional counting techniques. A systematic comparison of the performance of three different designs of shielding systems in four different installations has been made.

Background values of selected gas proportional counters were measured, compared and separated into their various components. Acceptably low backgrounds were obtained in all the systems tried. The performance of a NaI shield in a surface laboratory was found to be at least equal to the best obtained with a gas anticoincidence detector in a deep underground laboratory.

Atmospheric gas samples (0.1m3) were collected at ground level during January/February 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada for 14C/13C accelerator mass spectrometry and total abundance measurements of CO and CH4. During winter months in this locale, CO concentrations can occur at 10 to 100 times background, occasionally exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Methane concentrations show a slight enhancement (∼24%) above the background (non-urban troposphere) level. A comparison of CO and CH4 concentrations shows a good linear correlation which may indicate a common source. Preliminary 14C/13C results of the two species suggest that fossil emissions are the predominant source of excess CO and CH4 in the samples taken. Estimates of anthropogenic CO and CH4 are important for source apportionment of combustion emissions. In addition, this information is valuable for understanding the global CO and CH4 cycles and, therefore, human impact on climate and the stratospheric ozone layer.