Records of cosmogenic radionuclides Be-10, Al-26 and Cl-36 in corals: First studies on coral erosion rates and potential of dating very old corals
- Author(s): Lal, D
- Gallup, C D
- Somayajulu, BLK
- Vacher, L
- Caffee, M W
- Jull, AJT
- Finkel, R C
- Speed, R C
- Winters, A
- et al.
Abstract
We present results of measurements of cosmogenic Be-10, Al-26 and Cl-36, and the indigenous (intrinsic) concentrations of the stable elements Be, Al and Cl in 120-200 kyr old corals from Barbados and Puerto Rico. The concentration levels of these radionuclides in the corals lie in the range 10(4) to 10(8) atoms/g. A comparison of the measured nuclide concentrations with those expected to be produced in the corals by nuclear interactions of energetic cosmic radiation shows that (i) the radionuclides Al-26 and Cl-36 are derived from in situ cosmic ray interactions in the corals after their formation, but that (ii) the radionuclide Be-10 owes its provenance in the coralline lattice primarily due to incorporation of dissolved beryllium in seawater in the lattice structure of the corals. Copyright (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd.
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