Biogenic Apatite: Oxygen Isotope Analysis
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The remains of insects are dated using the exoskeleton made of chitin, which is a fibrous substance made up of polysaccharides. Given the very small size and weight of the exoskeletons, they have historically been very difficult to date.
Rescue archaeology plays the role of surveying and recovering any valuable finds from various sites. In the time-pressured environment of rescue archaeology, swift assessments and excavations where necessary are critical. For finds where radiocarbon dating is needed, this can throw a spanner in the works as the time lost waiting for results can be costly for the developers.
For deep sea corals, a combination of radiocarbon dating and uranium-thorium dating can be used. The carbon-14 date represents the age of the coral and the water, whereas the uranium-thorium date reflects the coral itself. This can provide information on past deep sea circulation rates.
Radiocarbon dating otoliths has the potential to confirm both the absolute age of individual fish and annuli formation. Despite the many techniques that can be used for age validation, only radiocarbon dating can provide the absolute age in a variety of fishes particularly the long-lived ones.
Choosing a radiocarbon dating laboratory is not always easy; there are many factors to consider and often budgetary constraints to negotiate. An important factor in decision-making is how quickly the results are reported, particularly if there are deadlines to meet. Even when there is no impending deadline, a fast turnaround time can be important and lead to cost savings in the long run.
As part of the continuous efforts to enhance the laboratory’s value-added services, Beta Analytic now provides C:N, %C and %N measurements on collagen extracted from non-cremated bones in addition to δ15N and δ13C stable isotope analysis at no additional cost for samples sent for radiocarbon dating.
Beta Analytic is expanding its services for groundwater and, for a limited time, is including free additional measurements when clients submit samples for radiocarbon dating. The laboratory is including isotope ratios for deuterium (dD) and oxygen (d18O) at no additional cost for all water samples submitted for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating until August 2016.
In an effort to further support its clients’ research, Beta Analytic will provide free d15N measurements on non-cremated bones and d18O on carbonates submitted for radiocarbon dating. The ISO 17025-accredited lab has recently removed its micro-sample analysis fees and cancellation fees for samples that are too small for standard AMS dating.
Beta Analytic, a professional ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited radiocarbon dating laboratory, is removing cancellation and partial analysis fees for samples that are too small or do not provide adequate carbon for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating.
Beta Analytic’s radiocarbon measurements are all ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited. Quality assurance reports are provided (QA report example). The QA report provides the results of reference materials used to validate radiocarbon analyses prior to reporting.
Radiocarbon dating laboratory Beta Analytic has transferred its Taiwan forwarding office to another location in Taipei. Effective November 20, 2014, samples should be sent to the following address: Beta實驗室台北代理處 台北市龍江路143-2號 No.143-2, Longjiang Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City 104 Taiwan Beta Analytic Taiwan Clients can still contact the Taiwan office at these numbers. Tel: (+886)-2-2175-2317 Fax: […]
Beta Analytic, Inc., is a NATURAL LEVEL ISOTOPE LABORATORY. As part of its commitment to ensure the highest-quality results to its clients, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic does not, and has never, accepted samples for radiocarbon (14C) dating or the measurement of stable isotopes such as 13C, 12C, Nitrogen, Oxygen or Deuterium, that have in any […]
To better serve its clients, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Beta Analytic has revamped its online form. Clients can now send multiple data sets in one form. The form is available in various languages.
As part of its commitment to provide high-quality results to its clients, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic does not accept pharmaceutical samples with “tracer Carbon-14” or any other material containing artificial Carbon-14 to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination.
Researchers often ask which material is best for radiocarbon dating – bones or teeth. Based on our lab’s experience, either material can provide the best date. However, the environmental conditions for these materials should be taken into account during sample selection.
There are two possible reservoir corrections applied to a radiocarbon date for marine carbonates – the localized reservoir correction (DeltaR / DeltaRErr) and the global marine reservoir correction. The former is provided by the client to the lab before the analyses while the latter is part of the calibration program.
It is possible to date fired clay bricks, but it depends on how the bricks were manufactured and what types of contamination may have been absorbed into the bricks since they were put in place.
Just like sediment, it is better to date the macrofossils found in sand. In the absence of macrofossils, sand can be dated if there is an organic material on the surface of the sand. If there is enough carbon present in the organic coating, a radiocarbon date can be obtained.
What if there are several materials found in sediment (e.g. wood, charcoal, seeds) but each one does not meet the lab’s minimum sample size requirement, can a mixture of materials be dated?
We have dated beeswax, sometimes with good success, sometimes not. This is because no pretreatment for organic contaminants can be applied. Thus, if any younger or older carbon has been incorporated in the beeswax, it will be represented in the result.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited radiocarbon dating laboratory Beta Analytic has recently opened a sample forwarding office in Taipei City, Taiwan. The company can now bill in Taiwan Dollar (TWD) via its new office. Clients who will pay in US Dollars (USD) will be billed via the Miami headquarters.
In addition to conventional collagen extraction, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic now offers ultrafiltration of bone collagen in response to clients’ need for additional pretreatments specific to their research opinions and objectives.
Beta Analytic Inc., the world’s largest professional radiocarbon dating laboratory, has successfully completed its ISO/IEC 17025:2017 re-accreditation assessment, according to Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc. (PJLA). Beta Analytic maintains its ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation as part of its commitment to provide high-quality results and excellent customer service to clients worldwide.
To better serve clients in South Korea, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic has opened a sample forwarding office in Seoul. The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to provide archaelogists, geoscientists, forensic experts, and other researchers in Asia with high-quality radiocarbon dating services. All samples submitted to the forwarding facilities are sent to the Miami […]
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