Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

H. Achyuthan ¹, O. Flora ², M. Braida ², Navin Shankar ¹, B. Stenni Stenni ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai - 600 025, IN
2 Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Ambientali e'Marine, Universita degli Studi di Trieste, IT

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the limitation of radiocarbon dates on the pedogenic calcic nodules formed in situ within the vertisols in the upland region of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The radiocarbon ages were obtained using lowlevel scintillation counters and the dates range from ∼24 to 31 ¹⁴C kyrs BP. The ages correlate with the marine isotope stage of Late MIS3. However, since the calcic nodules are pedogenised and formed in an open system, the ¹⁴C ages should only be considered as estimates and not absolute ages because of the possibility of open-system behaviour with respect to carbon. Thus, we express caution in the interpretation of these and other radiocarbon ages obtained on pedogenic carbonate nodules. Multiple sub-mm size subsamples could provide more reliable age estimates.

Keywords

Calcic Nodules, Radiocarbon Ages, Vertisols, Late MIS3 Period, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

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