Yale University Geology and Geophysics Radiocarbon Dates I

Abstract

A radiocarbon dating system has been established at the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University. Liquid-scintillation counting of benzene described by Noakes et al (1965) and Polach and Stipp (1967) is used. The operation of the original Yale Radiocarbon Laboratory, based on counting CO2 gas, was suspended in 1969. The present facility is operated as part of the geochemical laboratories of the Department of Geology and Geophysics. The operation is small, geared to solving geochemical problems, through the use of radiocarbon as a dating tool and as a natural tracer in combination with other geochemical parameters. The facility will collaborate on significant archaeologic and geologic problems. However, it will not be a facility to which samples are submitted routinely. We believe that commercial facilities and other laboratories dedicated to such kinds of operation are better suited to handling such diversity and volume of samples.