Reporting 14C Activities and Concentrations
Open accessAbstract
Three modes of reporting 14 C activities are in use, in part analogous to the internationally accepted (IAEA) conventions for stable isotopes: (1) absolute activity, the specific activity of 14 C or the activity per gram of carbon; (2) activity ratio, the ratio between the absolute activities of a sample and the standard; and (3) relative activity, the difference between the absolute activities of a sample and standard material, relative to the absolute standard activity. The basic definitions originate from decisions made by the radiocarbon community at its past conferences. Stuiver and Polach (1977) reviewed and sought to specify the definitions and conventions. Several colleagues, however, have experienced inadequacies and pitfalls in the definitions and use of symbols. Furthermore, the latter have to be slightly amended because of the use of modern measuring techniques. This paper is intended to provide a consistent set of reporting symbols and definitions, illustrated by some practical examples.
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The δ13C values were measured for all samples for the purpose of fractionation correction.
“The δ 13 C values were measured for all samples for the purpose of fractionation correction, following the international convention (32).”
From A high-precision chronological model for the decorated Upper Paleolithic cave of Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche, France (2016) · cites this paper as [32]
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Cites
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“…reference standard 49,50 , whereas the radiocarbon contents in the analysed samples are expressed as percent of modern carbon (pMC) defined as 51–53 : where 14 R SN and 14 R ON are 14 C/ 12 C isotope ratios measured in the analysed samples and the reference standard (Oxalic Acid II),…”
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- Authors
- Mook, W. G., & van der Plicht, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Groningen (NL)
- Venue
- Radiocarbon
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1999
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 227-239
- ISSN
- 0033-8222 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-5755
- OpenAlex
- W2102534963
- Cited by
- 456
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 6.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Radiocarbon (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Radiation › Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation
- Keywords
- radiocarbon dating, specific activity, activity ratios, relative activity
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