Carbon-14 is constantly being produced in the upper atmosphere, and the amount is in equilibrium. As long as an organism is alive, it keeps its carbon isotopes in balance with the atmosphere, but at soon as it dies, it stops taking up new 14C, and so the geologic clock starts. You found a shell buried in sedimentary layers, which has 6% of its original 14C left

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Carbon-14 is constantly being produced in the upper atmosphere, and the amount is in

equilibrium. As long as an organism is alive, it keeps its carbon isotopes in balance with the

atmosphere, but at soon as it dies, it stops taking up new 14C, and so the geologic clock starts.

You found a shell buried in sedimentary layers, which has 6% of its original 14C left.

Determine the age of the shell. Show your work.

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