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DETERMINATION OF 14C IN VOLCANIC GAS BY ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
Abstract
Radioactive nuclides such as radiocarbon can be good tracers for investigating the circulation of underground
carbon and water. Volcanic gas can be sampled reliably for 14C analysis and prepared for analysis by accelerator mass
spectrometry (AMS). In this paper, we establish a method for the measurement of 14C in volcanic gas, and measure the
amounts of 14C in various volcanic gases. Samples of fumarolic gas from some Japanese volcanoes were found to contain 0.5
to 4.2 pMC, while those from White Island in New Zealand contained 2.6 pMC. Dissolved gas from Lake Nyos, Cameroon,
contained 0.4 to 4.8 pMC. The data indicate a mixing process between surface carbon and deep carbon.
carbon and water. Volcanic gas can be sampled reliably for 14C analysis and prepared for analysis by accelerator mass
spectrometry (AMS). In this paper, we establish a method for the measurement of 14C in volcanic gas, and measure the
amounts of 14C in various volcanic gases. Samples of fumarolic gas from some Japanese volcanoes were found to contain 0.5
to 4.2 pMC, while those from White Island in New Zealand contained 2.6 pMC. Dissolved gas from Lake Nyos, Cameroon,
contained 0.4 to 4.8 pMC. The data indicate a mixing process between surface carbon and deep carbon.