Socony Mobil Radiocarbon Dates I

Abstract

The samples in this list were measured by the methane proportional counter method reported by Burke and Meinschein (1955). Shell samples were mechanically cleaned and washed with water. Where necessary, cold, very dilute HCI was used to remove the powdery exterior. Sedimentary wood and mud or clay samples were treated with hot concentrated HCI and washed with water before burning. Four other types of materials recovered from sediments were dated: (1) the total organic carbon, (2) benzene-soluble organic material, (3) foraminiferal tests, and (4) “dispersed carbonate”. The foraminiferal samples were recovered from the sediment by washing on a 120-mesh screen. These were then converted to carbon dioxide by acid treatment. “Dispersed carbonate” was recovered in the form of CO₂, by acid (HCI) treatment of the sediment wash which had been depleted of Foraminifera. The total organic carbon samples were recovered by combustion to CO₂ after all carbonates had been removed by acid treatment. Organic extractables were also converted to CO₂ by combustion.