Major carbon-14 deficiency in modern snail shells from southern Nevada springs

A.C. Riggs

doi:10.1126/science.224.4644.58

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Major carbon-14 deficiency in modern snail shells from southern Nevada springs

A.C. Riggs

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Abstract

Carbon-14 contents as low as 3.3 ± 0.2 percent modern (apparent age, 27,000 years) measured from the shells of snails Melanoides tuberculatus living in artesian springs in southern Nevada are attributed to fixation of dissolved HCO 3 - with which the shells are in carbon isotope equilibrium. Recognition of the existence of such extreme deficiencies is necessary so that erroneous ages are not attributed to freshwater biogenic carbonates.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 35.00673221663355° to 38.352235693453565° latitude; -118.88277512777015° to -113.96172703683513° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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A.C. Riggs. 1984. Major carbon-14 deficiency in modern snail shells from southern Nevada springs. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.224.4644.58

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