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Excess carbon‐14 abundances in uranium ores: Possible evidence for emission from uranium‐series isotopes
Author(s) -
Barker D.,
Jull A. J. T.,
Donahue D. J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl012i010p00737
Subject(s) - uranium , natural uranium , isotope , carbon fibers , uranium 238 , radiochemistry , mineral , isotopes of uranium , decay chain , radioactive decay , nuclear physics , chemistry , physics , neutron , materials science , fission , metallurgy , composite number , composite material
Significant levels of 14 C have been detected in uranium‐bearing minerals using the tandem accelerator mass spectrometer at the University of Arizona. The amount of 14 C detected in a given mineral is proportional to the concentration of uranium in that mineral. The average value of 14 C atoms/uranium atom is (2.2±0.5)×10 −15 (2σ). These data are consistent with the assumption of direct 14 C emission from one or more nuclei in the 238 U 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 14 C from 11 B(α,p) 14 C.