Sample Type and Size Requirements
A wide range of sample types can be submitted for dating. We can advise on the suitability of different materials and the most effective pretreatments. Table 1 shows the ideal weights.
Table 1: Sample size requirements (Dry weights*).
Material | AMS dating |
| Wood | 50 mg |
| Charcoal | 50 mg |
| Carbonates | 50 mg |
| Peat^ | 1-5 g |
| Bone^ | 1-5 g |
| Lake Sediment^ | 1 g |
| Water (DIC) | 100ml |
| Methane | ~ 20mls of >15% methane |
* Recommended weights given are for clean, dry material.
^ Ranges reflect varying carbon content (weights approximate).
Table 2: Approximate size of standard error (±1 sigma) for radiocarbon samples.
|
Sample age (yrs)
|
Approximate standard error for AMS samples
|
|
500
|
20
|
|
1000
|
20
|
|
5000
|
20
|
|
10,000
|
25
|
|
20,000
|
80
|
|
30,000
|
250
|
|
40,000
|
1000
|
|
50,000
|
- |