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Vol.
29 No. 2
March-April 2007
Recommendations for Isotope Data in Geosciences
A joint project between the Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Divisions of IUPAC and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) has been approved to evaluate radioisotope decay data used in the geosciences and planetary sciences for dating. Significant disparities exist between data used in these communities and those employed in physics and chemistry. The project will draw on complementary expertise represented in IUGS and IUPAC. Previous work by IUGS (Working Group “Decay Constants in Geochronology”) and IUPAC (Commissions II.1 “Isotopic Abundance” and V.7 “Radiochemistry and Nuclear Techniques”) will be included, harmonized, and updated. Through the project, IUGS-IUPAC interaction will be tightened.
Initial work (2006–2008) will focus on nine nuclides used in geochronology (40K, 87Rb, 138La, 147Sm, 176Lu, 187Re, 232Th, 235U, 238U). Half-lives, decay schemes, and isotopic compositions of parent and daughter elements will be critically evaluated. Uncertainty analyses need to be adequately reassessed following ISO/GUM procedures. Successive phases will both expand the number of nuclides and refine the isotopic abundances in view of additional recommendations.
The task group, chaired by Paul Renne, includes Mauro Bonardi, Paul De Bièvre, Ales Fajgelj, Norman Holden, Dunyi Liu, and Igor Villa.
For more information contact Task Group Chairman Paul Renne <[email protected]>.
www.iupac.org/projects/2006/2006-016-1-200.html
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last modified 16 April 2007.
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