Definition
Any of a number of methods used to determine the spectrum of isotopic abundances in a given material based on the measurement of relative masses of atoms or molecules present in that material. As applied to scientific dating, mass spectrometry is most commonly used to determine abundances of parent and progeny isotopes in naturally radioactive decay systems that have half-lives of geological relevance (years to billions of years).
Introduction
Scientific methods for dating materials of geological interest commonly utilize natural radioactive isotopes that spontaneously transform to progeny isotopes at constant and well-known rates of decay. In order to use this property to estimate absolute ages, it is essential to accurately determine the abundances of both parent and progeny isotopes in a mineral or rock sample that has remained closed to isotopic exchange with its surroundings since its formation. Decay counting can be used to quantify abundances of short-lived...
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Paces, J.B., Weis, D., Ireland, T.R. (2014). Mass Spectrometry. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_182-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_182-1
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