Progress in ³⁶Cl Dating of Young Sediments

The cosmogenic ³⁶Cl has a unique advantage for the dating of quaternary strata and the quaternary period. Due to the continuous development of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), ³⁶Cl can now be measured to a high degree of sensitivity. The research status and difficulties surrounding the use of ³⁶Cl as a dating tool are discussed, especially the dating method in continental sediments. The early specific activity I₀ in the dating formula which restricts the application of this technique is also discussed including the theory that the superimposition effect has to I₀at different elevations. The process of the sample′s preparation is also introduced as a dynamic AgCl sample preparation process, namely that the ion exchange resin is applied to remove S and the metallic elements which maybe produce the ‘salt effect’, effectively eliminate the interference to ³⁶Cl by ³⁶S. This method has the advantage of being very efficient.