Šujan M., Braucher R. & ASTER Team, 2018: A test of reproducibility of authigenic beryllium extraction from clay sediment in the facility of the Dept. of Geology and Palaeontology, Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia). Acta Geologica Slovaca, 10, 2, 165–169.

A test of reproducibility of authigenic beryllium extraction from clay sediment in the facility of the Dept. of Geology and Palaeontology, Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia)

Michal Šujan¹, Régis Braucher² & ASTER Team^2*

¹Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
²Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS-IRD-Collège de France-INRA, UM 34 CEREGE, Technopôle de l'Environnement Arbois-Méditerranée, BP80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence, France
^*Maurice Arnold, Georges Aumaitre, Didier L. Bourlès, Karim Keddadouche

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate, whether the newly developed laboratory at the Dept. of Geology and Palaeontology (Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia) is suitable for processing of samples for authigenic ¹⁰Be/⁹Be dating method. The approach was validated on reprocessing of four samples, which were previously analysed at CEREGE (Aix-en-Provence, France). The samples underwent leaching and resin chemistry. Each sample was triplicated with the preparation of a blank sample. Processed samples were sent to CEREGE for isotopic measurements, which provided 15 values of ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratio. The obtained values showed a good consistency for each sample, although two subsamples appeared as outliers (one of which was original). Analytical uncertainties are comparable to the original measurements, difference is below 1.5%. Processing blanks yielded stable values at least three orders of magnitude lower than measured subsample ¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratios, what imply a good workflow conditions. These tests revealed that the new laboratory is suitable for processing samples for authigenic ¹⁰Be/⁹Be dating method.

Key words: authigenic ¹⁰Be/⁹Be, cosmogenic nuclide, chemical treatment test, reproducibility evaluation, radiometric dating

Manuscript received: 2018-09-16

Revised version accepted: 2018-10-26