GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA PAPER 91-7 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA RADIOCARBON DATES XXXI Collated by R. McNeely and P.K. Jorgensen 1993 Natural Resources Ressources naturelles l+I Canada Canada $fr. :?.< ov 199 $/0- 7 < GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA PAPER 91-7 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA RADIOCARBON DATES XXXI Collated by R. McNeely and P.K. Jorgensen 1993 ©Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1993 Available in Canada through authorized bookstore agents and other bookstores or by mail from Canada Communication Group - Publishing Ottawa, Canada K 1A OS9 and from Geological Survey of Canada offices: 601 Booth Street Ottawa, Canada KIA OE8 3303-33rd Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta TIL 2A7 I 00 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B IR8 A deposit copy of this publication is also available for reference in public libraries across Canada Cat. No. M44-91/7E ISBN 0-660-15314-9 Price subject to change without notice Authors' address R. McNeely P.K. Jorgensen Geological Survey of Canada Terrain Sciences Division 601 Booth Street Ottawa, Ontario KIA OE8 CONTENTS Abstract/Resume 1 Introduction 2 Acknowledgments Eastern Canada 4 Newfoundland 15 Labrador 15 Nova Scotia 21 New Brunswick 22 Quebec 33 Ontario Western Canada 34 Manitoba 36 Saskatchewan 38 Alberta 39 British Columbia Northern Canada, mainland 48 Yukon Territory 53 Northwest Territories Northern Canada, Arctic Archipelago 54 Axel Heiberg Island 55 Baffin Island 61 Ellesmere Island 64 Lowther Island 66 Melville Island 66 Melville Peninsula 76 Prince of Wales Island 76 Stefansson Island 77 Victoria Island United States of America 78 New York State 79 Washington State 80 References 84 Index Tables 3 1. Monthly average count rate for backgrounds and the number of individual counts 3 2. Monthly average count rate for oxalic acid standards and the number of individual counts Figures 4 1. Radiocarbon dated sites in Newfoundland 15 2. Radiocarbon dated sites in Labrador 15 3. Radiocarbon dated sites in Nova Scotia 21 4. Radiocarbon dated sites in New Brunswick 22 5. Radiocarbon dated sites in Quebec 33 6. Radiocarbon dated sites in Ontario 34 7. Radiocarbon dated sites in Manitoba 36 8. Radiocarbon dated sites in Saskatchewan 38 9. Radiocarbon dated sites in Alberta 39 10. Radiocarbon dated sites in British Columbia 48 11. Radiocarbon dated sites in the Yukon 53 12. Radiocarbon dated sites on the mainland Northwest Territories 54 13. Radiocarbon dated sites in the Arctic Archipelago This Date List, GSC XXXI, is the twentieth to be published directly in the Geological Survey's Paper series. Lists prior to GSC XII were published first in the journal Radiocarbon and were reprinted as GSC Papers. The lists through 1967 (GSC VI) were given new pagination, whereas lists VII to XI (1968 to 1971) were reprinted with the same pagination. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA RADIOCARBON DATES XXXI Abstract This list presents 298 radiocarbon age determinations made by the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Geological Survey of Canada, plus 13 AMS dates done by IsoTrace Laboratories, 1 date by Beta Analytical Inc., and 6 dates made at the Saskatchewan Research Council in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. All samples dated more than 2 years ago have now been reported in date lists. The total number (314) of samples from various areas are as follows: Newfoundland (40); Nova Scotia (22); New Brunswick (2); Quebec (51); Ontario (4); Manitoba (9); Saskatchewan (3); Alberta (3); British Columbia (48); Yukon Territory (19); Northwest Territories, mainland (5); Northwest Territories, Arctic Archipelago (103); United States of America - New York State (1 ); Washington State (5 ). Tables 1 and 2 summarize the details of background and standard counts for the 2 L and 5 L counters during the period from January 8, 1991 to January 15, 1992. Resume Ce rapport presente les resultats de 298 datations effectuees par le laboratoire de datation au radiocarbone, Commission geologique du Canada, en plus de 13 datations AMS effectuees par d' autres laboratoires, de 1 datation effectuees par Beta Analytical Inc., et de 6 datation effectuees par le council researche du Saskatchewan a Saskatoon. Tous les resultats des datations faites ii y a plus de deux ans ont maintenant ete presentes sous forme de listes de datations. Les echantillons dates, au nombre de 314, proviennent des regions suivantes: Terre-Neuve (40); Nouvelle-Ecosse (22); Nouveau-Brunswick (2); Quebec (51); Ontario (4), Manitoba (9); Saskatchewan (3 ); Alberta (3); Colombie-Britannique (48); Yukon (19); Territoires du Nord-Ouest, continent (5); Territoires du Nord-Ouest, archipel arctique (103); Etats Unis d'Amerique - Etat New York (J); Etat Washington (5). Les tableaux 1 et 2 resument les valeurs de bruit de fond et d' etalonnage des compteurs de 2 L et 5 L, de la periode al/ant du 8 Janvier 1991 au 15 Janvier 1992. INTRODUCTION1 This publication includes all the samples that have been Sample gas preparation and purification were carried out dated more than 2 years ago and not published in a "date as described in Lowdon et al. (1977). Carbon dioxide gas list". The presentation of dates within each section or proportional counting techniques have been discussed by subsection of this text is ordered from east to west. All GSC Dyck (1967). For a review of laboratory operations the dates, up to and including GSC-5000, are now accessible on reader is referred to Lowdon (1985). a computer database. The 'Date Locator File· provides convenient, fast access to our dates by allowing the user to During the period from January 1990 through December interactively select indexed parameters, such as laboratory 1990, both the 2 L counter (Dyck and Fyles, 1963) and the number, submitter, locality, material, age range, to retrieve 5 L counter (Dyck et al., 1965) were operated continuously. samples (McNeely, 1988). Supplementary information on The 2 L counter was operated at 2 atmospheres throughout this database is available from Dr. J-S. Vincent, Director, this period, and the 5 L counter was operated at 1 atm, Terrain Sciences Division, Geological Survey of Canada. except for February, and May and June when the 5 L counter was operated at 4 atmospheres ('High Pressure'). 1 The date list has been compiled by R. McNeely and P.K. Jorgensen from descriptions of samples and interpretations of age determinations provided by the collectors and submitters. On a monthly basis, the counting rates for backgrounds Acknowledgments and standards were within statistical limits. The average background and oxalic acid standard counting rates, and the Appreciation is expressed to S.M. Chartrand (1969 to 1976), number of 1-day counts used to determine the average are J.E. Tremblay (1976 to 1980), A.M. Telka (1980 to 1986), shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. L.M. Maille (1986 to 1989, and 1991 to present) and M. Leflar (1990), I.M. Robertson (1964 to 1989), and Age calculations during the report period were done on a J. Brennan (1989 to present) for the preparation, microcomputer (VICTOR 9000). Calculations are based on purification, and counting of samples in the laboratory. a 14C half-life of 5568 ± 30 years and 0.95 of the activity of Supervision of laboratory operations has been as follows: the NBS oxalic acid standard. Ages are quoted in W. Dyck (1960 to 1965), J.A. Lowdon (1965 to 1981), and radiocarbon years before present (BP), where "present" is R. McNeely (1981 to present). taken to be 1950. The error assigned to each age has been calculated using only the counting errors of sample, Identification of materials used for dating or associated background, and standard, and the error in the half-life of 14C with the dated material has been carried out by the (Lowdon and Blake, 1973). Nonfinite dates (i.e., greater following specialists: than ages) are based on a 4 sigma criterion (99.9% Algae (marine): R.K.S. Lee and W.H. Adey probability), whereas finite dates are based on a 2 sigma (freshwater): J.P. Smol criterion (95.5% probability) and, therefore, are Arthropods (fossil): J.V. Matthews, Jr. unconventionally reported with an error term of ±2 sigma. Barnacles: C.G. Rodrigues In addition, all GSC dates are rounded according to the Diatoms: S. Federovich and J.P. Smol Macrofossils (plant): J.V. Matthews, Jr., M. Kuc, and N.F. Alley following criteria: Molluscs: A.H. Clarke, Jr., M.F.I. Smith, the late W.H. Dall, R. Hebda, F.J.E. Wagner, Age Significant C.G. Rodrigues, and J.E. Dale (years BP} figures Mosses: M. Kuc, J.A. Janssens, and W.A. Weber 0 - 99 1 Pollen: R.J. Mott, S. Federovich, N.F. Alley, and 100 - 999 2 J.E. Shepperd 1000 - 9999 3 Vertebrates: C.R. Harington >10 OOO 3 Wood: R.J. Mott, L.D. Wilson (nee Farley-Gill), nonfinite 2 H. Jette, and G. Argus Ancillary Analyses: If 13C/ 12C ratios (o 13C) were available, a "correction" for Accelerator mass spectrometry R.P. Beukens isotopic fractionation was applied to the sample age, and the 13 (AMS) dating: IsoTrace Laboratory, (U of T), Toronto o C value reported. For terrestrial and nonmarine organic Amino acid ratios: I. Moffat (N.W. Rutter), University of materials, and bones (both terrestrial and marine) the ages Alberta; 13 are conventionally corrected to a o C = -25.0%0 PDB, X-ray diffraction: A.C. Roberts and R.N. Delabio, whereas, marine shell ages are unconventionally corrected to (on shell material) Mineralogy Section, GSC. 13 a o C = 0.0%0 PDB; freshwater shell ages are not corrected. The GSC clientele extend their sincere thanks to them. All o13C determinations were made on aliquots of the sample gas used for age determinations. Since 1989, all o13C values M.