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From: Robert Underhill
Category: Shipwreck Research
Date: 18 Apr 2004
Time: 13:14:59
Remote Name: 152.163.253.68
Ross, Carbon 14 is created in the upper atmosphere by the nuclear reactions of cosmic rays. It then combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (just like the much more common nonradioactive carbon 12 does). It only works on objects that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, organic plants. Why would anyone try to use this for determining the age of rocks?