Radiochronology Laboratory: Pb-210 and Cs-137 Dating

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Pb-210 and Cs-137 Dating

The CEN radiochronology laboratory offers Pb-210 and Cs-137 dating services for sediments using the HPGe (High-Purity Germanium detector) method.

It is also possible to count the isotopes Am-241, Cd-109, Co-57 as well as Ra-226 (which is the average of Pb-214 and Bi-214).

The laboratory has 2 detectors in operation, reducing waiting times for sample counting.

Sample Preparation and Submission

The sample preparation procedure is as follows:

  1. Contact us for the plastic vials required for counting.
  2. Dry your samples.
  3. Weigh your samples to an accuracy of 0.1 mg.
  4. Compact the sample as much as possible in the vial. Also, if possible, try to have a fairly similar volume (height) in each of the vials.

We also offer encapsulation (preparation) of your samples if you don't want to do it yourself. Before sending them to us, please make sure they are dry and well identified, in plastic vials or Ziploc bags.

To submit samples, please fill in the Pb-210 dating form (PDF) (Word) for each core (not each sample) submitted for analysis, and enclose it with your core samples.

Send Samples

RADIOCHRONOLOGY LABORATORY
c/o Guillaume Labrecque
Laval University
Abitibi-Price Building, Room 0248
2405, Rue de la Terrasse
Quebec, QC CANADA
G1V 0A6

Contact

Guillaume Labrecque : radiocarbon@cen.ulaval.ca
Telephone : (418) 656-2131 ext. 404486

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HPGe counters for Pb-210, Cs-137 and Ra-226 measurements

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