Abstract
The isotope 138La(0.089% of natural lanthanum) decays by β− and electron capture to 138Ce and 138Ba with a long half-life. We present here the first age determination using La–Ce dating. An internal La–Ce isochron of a gabbro from the upper zone of the Bushveld, South Africa, yields an age of 2,390 ± 480 (2σ) Myr based on the partial decay constant 2.58 × 10 −12 yr−1. This age agrees with the Sm–Nd isochron age (2,050 ± 90(2σ) Myr) which was obtained from an aliquot of the same sample solution: within the uncertainties of 138La half life and isotopic measurement.
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Tanaka, T., Masuda, A. The La–Ce geochronometer: a new dating method. Nature 300, 515–518 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/300515a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/300515a0
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