36Cl preparation method for Chinese Karst samples (Tiankeng)

Tiankeng, a typical Karst relief of the Late Quaternary Period, in the south of China, plays an important role when researching the surface shape and evolution of the Karst relief. The accumulation of Chlorine-36 (T1/2 = 301 ka) through the interaction of cosmic ray particles with Ca, K and Cl in rocks allow it to be used as the ideal nuclide for determination of the exposure age and erosion rate of limestone. In this work, an improved 36Cl sample preparation method for Tiankeng limestone was presented. The Isotope Dilution-AMS technique allows for the simultaneous measurement of 36Cl and Cl with a single AMS sample preparation. The barium introduced during the sample preparation was removed to avoid ionizer poisoning and attain a higher and more stable beam current. The method is particularly suitable for limestone samples, as well as for soil, sediment and water samples.