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Production and Interfering Reactions in 40Ar/39Ar Dating
File Name m00053.img.823.reactions.40ar.39ar.jpg
Data Type diagram
Computer Program Adobe Illustrator CS2
File Size 252.00 KB - 2 files [ jpg,pdf ]
Expert Level College and Introduction to Science
Contributor ERESE Database Team
Source Dickin 1995
Resource Matrix 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology
Description
The major production reaction in 40Ar/39Ar dating is 39K (n,p) 39Ar as denoted by the red arrow in this diagram. However, at the same time of the neutron bombardment, other interfering reactions take place involving the unwanted production of Argon isotopes from Potassium and Calcium (see the other arrows in the diagram). All interferences shown here are significant, but can be corrected for by determining the production ratios for these reactions on pure salts of Ca and K or on Ca-fluorite minerals. These production ratios are dependent on the irradiation conditions, so they should be measured for each different nuclear reactor or different irradiation conditions applied. Note that in this diagram the unstable nuclides are denoted by light gray dotted boxes. Modified after Mitchell 1968.
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