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Graphite Versus

Phanerozoic Carbon

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Graphite

Range

Mass Spec C

Coal

Petroleum

Foraminifera

Wood

Other

Upper C. L.Lower C. L.

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The RATE Group

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Eocene

(40 Ma)

Cretaceous

(100 Ma)

Pennsylvanian

(350 Ma)

TX ND MT UT UT AZ KY PA PA IL

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Other data

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Graphite

Range

Mass Spec C

Coal

Petroleum

Foraminifera

Wood

Other

Upper C. L.Lower C. L.

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The UCI Diamond Data

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Graphite

Range

Mass Spec C

Diamonds

Upper C. L.

Lower C. L.

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The UCI Diamond Data

0

0.020.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.2

Graphite

Range

Mass Spec C

Diamonds

Upper C. L.

Lower C. L.

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The UCI Diamond Data

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

Graphite

Diamonds

Upper C. L.

Lower C. L.

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The UCI Diamond Data

in Chronological Order

0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

Graphite

Diamonds

Upper C. L.

Lower C. L.

UCIAMS-15442?

UCIAMS-14440?

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Implications of

The UCI Diamond Data

The data argue that some diamonds have

very low 14C concentrations

They are consistent with the hypothesis thatcontamination contributes to observed

background

They argue that there are differences of

carbon-14 concentrations in diamonds.

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Implications of

The UCI Diamond Data

Diamond 9639 is 9.35 standard deviations from

the mean of Diamond 12674-12679

That is not the proper test

Grubbs testing gives G1=2.195895th percentile is 1.938 for 7 samples (0.0115)

99th percentile is 2.097 (0.0092)

100th percentile is 2.2678

Grubbs testing on Diamond 9640 gives 2.182

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Authors Comments

At this time, it is not clear to us what factorsmight be involved in the greater variability in theapparent 14C concentrations exhibited in

individual diamonds (Section B) as opposed tosplits from a single natural diamond (Section A).Possible factors suggested to us are greatervariability in the orientation of the crystal faciesand microfractures in individual diamonds.

Note the absence of the possibility of differencesin actual 14C content due to residual activity.

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Summary

The data indicate that there is residualcarbon in at least some diamonds

This indication is getting stronger with time

Residual carbon requires a short ageIt destroys the standard geological timescale

Long-agers are unlikely to concede this fact

If I have to argue, I prefer that the datasupport my argument

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The End

Now its Erv Taylors turn