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Uranium Series, Opal

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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods

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Synonyms

U-series disequilibrium; 230Th/U ages; Opaline silica

Definition

Uranium series dating. A geochronological method that uses intermediate decay products in the 238U or 235U radioactive decay chains to measure the length of time required to reach the current state of radioactive disequilibrium from an initial condition.

Opal. Amorphous or only partially crystalline hydrated silicon dioxide (SiO2∙nH2O) precipitated from aqueous solutions in near-Earth-surface environments.

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Opal

Opal is a common mineraloid found near the surface of the Earth that consists of silica containing nonstructural water (SiO2∙nH2O). Opal typically forms by precipitation of colloidal silica from silica-saturated aqueous solutions in response to decreases in temperature, neutralization of alkaline solutions, increases in salinity, or evaporative concentration. Sedimentation of colloidal microspheres (<500 nm) results in deposits of amorphous silica gel. Subsequent dewatering...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS963, Denver, CO, 80225-0046, USA

    Dr. James B. Paces

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  1. Dr. James B. Paces
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Correspondence to James B. Paces .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jeroen Thompson

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Paces, J.B. (2014). Uranium Series, Opal. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_230-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_230-1

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