Natural Resources CanadaGovernment of Canada
 
 Français ÿ  Contact us ÿ  Help ÿ  Search ÿ  Canada site
 ESS Home ÿ  Priorities ÿ  Products &
 services
ÿ  About the
 Sector
ÿ  Site map
Satellite image of Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Radiocarbon Dating
.Home
.Laboratory
.Age Calculations
.Quality Assurance
.International Quality Assurance
.Collaborative Study
.IAEA Radiocarbon Q/A Program
.TIRI
.Internal Crosschecks
.Publications
.RC Dates
.Date List Publications
.Special Projects
.Ambient Levels
.Comparisons
.Marine Reservoir Ages


Geological Survey of Canada
Geological Survey of Canada


Proactive disclosure


Print version Print versionÿ
ÿGeological Survey of Canada
Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Geological Survey of Canada > Radiocarbon Dating
Radiocarbon Dating
del C-13s Analyses

The Geological Survey of Canada Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory ceased operation at the end of 2005. This site will be maintained to provide reference information on the samples dated during the 45 years of operation of the GSC laboratory from 1960 to 2005.

Prior to 1975 some del C-13s were determined by the GSC Geochronology Section and some by Teledyne Isotopes, Westwood, New Jersey. Between 1975 and 1985 del C-13s were determined by the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, or by Waterloo Isotope Analysts, Inc., Kitchener, Ontario (R.J. Drimmie, chief analyst) using the same equipment as at the University of Waterloo. In 1985 the analyses were done by OCGC Stable Isotope Facility, University of Ottawa, until 1987 when the analyses were carried out by the GSC Stable Isotopes Laboratory. From 1993 to 2005 the del C-13Cs have been analysed by OCGC Stable Isotope Facility, University of Ottawa.

Natural del C-13 Sample Fractionation

Material delta C-13
(per mil)
Marine HCO3 -1 ± 2
Marine CO3 0 ± 2
'PDB' del C-13 standard 0
Soil CO2, and secondary bone carbonate -5 ± 3
Speleothems -9 ± 3
Atmospheric CO2 -9 ± 2
Grains, seeds, maize, and millet (C-4 plants) -10 ± 2
'ANU Sucrose' C-14 standard -11 ± 0.5
Bone apatite and original carbonate -12 ± 3
Grasses arid zone, sedges -13 ± 3
Straw, flax -14 ± 3
Marine organisms (organic) -15 ± 3
Freshwater plants (submerged) -16 ± 4
Succulents (cactus, pineapple, etc.) -17 ± 2
'Oxalic acid 2' C-14 standard -17 ± 2
'Oxalic acid 1' C-14 standard -19 ± 2
Bone collagen (C-3 diet); wood cellulose -20 ± 2
Grains, wheat, etc. (C-3 plants); Graphite, coal -23 ± 3
Fossil wood, charcoal -24 ± 3
Recent wood, charcoal -25 ± 3
Tree leaves, wheat, straw etc. -27 ± 2
Peat, humus -27 ± 3

References:

Gupta, S.K. and Polach, H.A. 1985.
Radiocarbon Dating Practices at ANU. Handbook, Radiocarbon Dating laboratory, Research School of Pacific Studies, ANU, Canberra.

Aitken, M.J. 1990.
Science-based Dating in Archaeology. Longman, England.


2006-03-27Important notices