Methodological tests using Amazonian soil samples for 14C-AMS dating

Renata M. Jou*, Kita D. Macario, Luiz C. Pessenda, Fabiana B. Gomes, Fabiana M. Oliveira, Renan Pedrosa, Eduardo Q. Alves, Stewart Fallon, Leonardo J.C. Santos, Vanderlei Maniesi, Alexis S. Bastos

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although radiocarbon-accelerator mass spectrometry (14C-AMS) is an important tool for the establishment of soil chronology, its application is challenging due to the complex nature of soil samples. In the present study, chemical extraction methodologies were tested to obtain the most representative age of Amazonian soil deposition by 14C-AMS. We performed acid hydrolysis with different numbers of extractions, as well as treatments combining acid and bases and quartered and non-quartered samples. The ages of the soil organic matter (SOM) fractions were compared to the ages of naturally buried charcoal samples at similar depths. The results showed that the age of the non-hydrolyzable inert fraction of soil was closer to the age of charcoal and older than the ages of humin. It was also observed that the quartering process can influence the results, since the dating of the humin fraction showed variability in the results. Our results are important to provide information about the most suitable method for the 14C-AMS dating of soil samples for paleoenvironment reconstruction studies.

Original languageEnglish
JournalRadiocarbon
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2025

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Methodological tests using Amazonian soil samples for 14C-AMS dating'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this