Abstract:
14C is commonly used in groundwater dating. Due to the uncertainty of the initial
14C contents (A
0) and the complex geochemical processes in the subsurface, the
14C ages were corrected but remain largely uncertain. To determine the groundwater age for the Quaternary aquifer in the North China Plain, 27 new
14C samples were collected from the Xiong’an Area and its surroundings. Combined with 65
14C samples from published references, the initial
14C content (A
0) was determined after analyzing the hydrochemical evolution and constructing a parameter model of the aquifer. A feasible method was proposed to evaluate the accuracy of
14C ages. The initial
14C content was expected to be 87.0 pMC, with the dissolution of dead carbon being neglected in the aquifer. Oxygen isotope in groundwater can be divided into three stages by two climatic anomalous of 4.2 ka and Younger Dryas (YD, approximately 12 ka). There is a significant divergence between
14C dating results and
4He/
81Kr ages at the well depth of 300 m in the central and coastal plain, which indicates the arrival of the
14C dating limit. Therefore, the
14C ages can be evaluated by oxygen isotope in groundwater divided by two climatic anomalous of 4.2 ka and Younger Dryas. The
14C method should be used with caution in the deep aquifer.