The 11B(α,p) reaction and its relevance in subsurface 14C production

Excitation functions of 11B(α,p)14C reaction have been measured from 3 to 7.7 MeV in 50 or 100 keV steps. The angle-integrated cross-section has been used to calculate 14C production in an uranium mineral as a function of the boron content. Comparison is made with 14C production from the radioactive (exotic) decay of members of the uranium radioactive series.