<p>Froth flotation is a commonly used procedure for separating feldspars and micas from quartz for the preparation of quartz mineral separates to carry out cosmogenic nuclide analysis. Whilst extracting carbon from quartz we observed in situ carbon-14 (<sup>14</sup>C) concentrations which were anomalously high and in excess of theoretical geological maximum concentrations. Further etching of sample material reduced carbon yields and <sup>14</sup>C concentrations, yet the latter remained unrealistically high. When quartz from the original whole rock sample was isolated in our laboratory, we observed even lower carbon yields and geologically plausible in situ <sup>14</sup>C concentrations. After ruling out unlikely geological scenarios and systematic measurement issues, we decided to investigate the quartz isolation procedure as a potential source of <sup>14</sup>C contamination. We hypothesised that laurylamine (dodecylamine), an organic compound used as part of the froth flotation procedure, elevates <sup>14</sup>C concentrations if residual laurylamine is present. We demonstrate that laurylamine has a <sup>14</sup>C modern carbon source and thus has the potential to influence in situ <sup>14</sup>C measurements if present in minute but measurable quantities. Furthermore, we show that insufficient sample etching results in laurylamine-derived carbon persisting through step heating of quartz and is subsequently collected with the in situ component released at 1100 °C. We therefore demonstrate that laurylamine contaminates in situ <sup>14</sup>C measurements. We provide guidelines for the preparation of quartz based on methods developed in our laboratory and demonstrate that all laurylamine derived carbon and <sup>14</sup>C is removed when applied. We recommend that the procedures presented be used at a minimum when using froth flotation to isolate quartz for in situ <sup>14</sup>C measurements.</p>