Implications of improved radiocarbon dates of Timaru peats on Quaternary loess stratigraphy
- 1 July 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics
- Vol. 21 (4), 463-466
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.1978.10424071
Abstract
Peat samples from Timaru Downs, New Zealand, before radiocarbon assay were subjected to seven different chemical treatments which included extractions with alkali-pyrophosphate, a range of organic solvents, acid hydrolyses with 6M Hel, 72% H2SO4, 70% HNO3, and their combined treatments. The results obtained show considerable improvement in the reliability of 14C dates. The maximum improvement ranges from 490 years in the untreated surficial peat (9610 ± 100 year B.P.) to > 15 300 years in the untreated buried peat (34 400 ± 1200 year B.P.). Major implications of the improved 14C dates on the loess stratigraphy of South Canterbury are that the maximum age of the surficial peat overlying loess member 1 is confirmed at 10 000 years B.P. and at greater than 49 700 years B. P. for the buried peat overlying loess member 2. This significantly alters the minimum age of this member from the greater than 31000 years B.P. previously suggested.Keywords
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