The result of the dating is delivered in the form of a report stating the age of the sediment, the rate of sedimentation, the mixing depth and the mixing intensity. In addition, the results of the sensitivity analysis are reported. The sediment dating may be supplemented with estimations of the content of alga pigments in the depths required.

Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research

Thus, it will be possible not only to describe the sediment age, but also to give a picture of the dominant mixture of plankton alga at the same time. Sediment studies may also be supplemented with determinations of e. Decay of uranium in the earth's crust releases the gas radon. This gas produces Pb by decay in the atmosphere. In the water phase Pb is adsorbed to particulate matter and together they are deposited in the sediment.

The remaining amount of Pb at a certain depth will reveal the age of the given sediment layer. This dating method covers the past period of years due to the half-life of about 22 years. Dating of sediment is used to calculate sedimentation rate and accumulation rates for different substances.

A number of studies have focused on the accumulation of heavy metals during the past years. If the concentration of substances at different depths is compared with the corresponding ages, the accumulation rates of these substances at different times may be determined from the sediment accumulation rate.

Sediment dating with 210Pb

The presence of radon gas as a member of the uranium-decay scheme provides a unique method for creating disequilibrium. The gas radon Rn escapes from the ground and decays rapidly in the atmosphere to lead Pb , which falls quickly to the surface where…. Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered.

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A study on lead dating

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