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Elmore, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Elmore, D..

16 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Aluminum 26, Be-10 and Cl-36 depth profiles in the Canyon Diablo iron meteorite

We have measured activities of the long-lived cosmogenic radionuclides Al-26, Be-10, and Cl-36 in 12 fragments of the iron meteorite Canyon Diablo and have constructed production rate-versus-depth profiles of those radionuclides. Profiles determined using differential particle fluxes calculated with the LAHET code system are in good agreement with Al-26, Be-10, and Cl-36 experimental data, but the agreement for Cl-36 was obtained only after neutron-induced cross sections were modified. Profiles calculated with lunar particle fluxes are much lower than experimental Canyon Diablo profiles. The cosmic ray exposure ages of most samples are near 540 m.y.

Michlovich, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Al-26 production profile and model comparisons in Canyon Diablo

The large preatmospheric size of the Canyon Diablo meteorite, a radius of about 15 m, makes it especially suitable for systematic studies of cosmogenic nuclide production rates of iron objects in a 2 pi geometry. To reconstruct the exposure history of the meteoroid, Heymann et al. investigated several fragments recovered from known geographic locations around the crater for their shock features and cosmogenic nobel gases. They applied the Signer-Nier noble gas production rate model to establish the preatmospheric depth of the specimens in the meteoroid. Cosmic ray exposure ages suggested a multi-episodic irradiation, with 170 or 540 Ma being inferred for most of the samples studied while two anomalous specimens indicated a possible third exposure age at 940 Ma. Be-10 and Cl-36 have been measured in a number of these same samples by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), with use being made of the preatmospheric depths determined in Heymann et al. to construct production profiles. The present study extends the cosmogenic radionuclide data to Al-26 and compares the results with both the production rate model of Reedy and Arnold and production rates determined from the cross sections used by the Reedy-Arnold model (for the major nuclear reactions making Al-26) in combination with differential fluxes calculated using the Los Alamos High Energy Transport (LAHET) Code System. Model calculations for Be-10 and Cl-36 have also been obtained.

Michlovich, E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Exposure histories of lunar meteorites - ALHA81005, MAC88104, MAC88105, and Y791197

The cosmogenic radionuclides Ca-41, Cl-36, Al-26, and Be-10 in the Allan Hills 81005, MacAlpine Hills 88104, MacAlpine Hills 88105, and Yamato 791197 meteorites were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Mn-53 in Allan Hills 81005 and Yamato 791197 was measured by neutron activation. These four lunar meteorites experienced similar histories. They were ejected from near the surface of the moon ranging in depth down to 400 g/sq cm and had very short transition times (less than 0.1 Ma) from the moon to the earth. A comparison of the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in MacAlpine Hills 88104 and MacAlpine Hills 88105 clearly indicates that they are a pair from the same fall.

Nishiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Update on terrestrial ages of Antarctic meteorites

Cosmic-ray produced Cl-36 (half-life = 3.01 x 10 to the 5th years) has been measured in 90 Antarctic meteorites by accelerator mass spectrometry. The terrestrial ages of the meteorites were calculated from the results. After excluding possible paired objects, 138 terrestrial ages from 18 different locations are available from C-14, Kr-81, and Cl-36 measurements for application to Antarctic meteorite and glaciological studies. The terrestrial ages of Allan Hills meteorites vary from 2000 years to 1 million years and are clearly longer than those of Yamato meteorites and other Antarctic meteorites. The oldest Allan Hills meteorites were found close to the eastern edge and in the southeast of the main icefield. Among all Antarctic meteorites measured to date, only L and LL chondrites have terrestrial ages older than 370,000 years.

Nishiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Cosmogenic Cl-36 production rates in meteorites and the lunar surface

Activity vs. depth profiles of cosmic ray produced Cl-36 were measured in metal from two cores each in the St. Severin and Jilin chondrites and in lunar core 15008. Production of Cl-36 in these samples range from high-energy reactions with Fe and Ni to low-energy reactions with Ca and K and possibly neutron-capture reactions with Cl-36. The cross sections used in the Reedy-Arnold model for neutron-induced reactions were adjusted to get production rates that fit the measured Cl-36 activities in St. Severin metal and in the lunar soil of core 15008. The Cl-36 in metal from St. Severin has a fairly flat activity-vs-depth profile, unlike most other cosmogenic nuclides in bulk samples from St. Severin, which increase in concentration with depth. In metal from Jilin, a decrease in Cl-36 was observed near its center. The length of Jilin's most recent cosmic-ray exposure was approximately 0.5 My. Lunar core 15008 has an excess in Cl-36 of about 4 dpm/kg near its surface that was produced by solar-proton-induced reactions. The calculated production rates are consistent with these measured trends in 15008.

Nishiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Exposure history of shergottites

The cosmogenic nuclides Cl-36, Al-26, Be-10, and Mn-53 were analyzed in Shergotty, ALHA 77005, and EETA 79001 shergottites by means of accelerator mass spectrometry and neutron activation. The cosmogenic radionuclide data were combined with noble gas data and cosmic ray track data to obtain the exposure ages, terrestrial ages, preatmospheric radii, and ablation depths for the three shergottites. The results indicate that none of the three meteorites was irradiated measurably by cosmic rays on its parent body, and that all three objects were ejected from greater than a 3-m depth in their parent bodies. The EETA 79001 meteorite was ejected in an event distinct from that of ALHA 77005 and Shergotty. All three shergottites show a very small amount of ablation, suggesting low velocities on entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Nishizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Determination of cosmogenic Ca-41 in a meteorite with tandem accelerator mass spectrometry

The first use of tandem accelerator mass spectrometry (TAMS) to measure the content of Ca-41 in a natural sample, the iron Bogou meteorite, is reported. Ca in the samples was extracted by hydroxide precipitation and purified by means of a caution exchange resin (AG 50W-X8). After adding 4 percent ammonium oxide, the precipitate was ignited to CaO in a quartz vial at about 1100 C. The Ca-41/Ca ratios were determined following acceleration by alternate measurements of the Ca-40 beam current in an image Faraday cup. Ca-41 particles were also measured using a gas counter. The measured Ca-41/Ca ratio was 3.8 + or -0.6 x 10 to the 12th, which corresponds to a Ca-41 activity of 6.9 + or -1.1 d.p.m. per kg. Calculation of the half-life of Ca-41 in the Bogou meteorite yielded an age of 103,000 years.

Kubik, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Determination of CA-41, I-129 and OS-187 in the Rochester tandem accelerator and some applications of these isotopes

The measurement of Ca-41 and I-129 utilizing the Rochester Tanden Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (TAMS) is discussed. Ca-41, having a half-life of 100,000 yrs., is of potential use for the dating of ground water as well as of bones in the age range between 50,000 and 1 million yrs. A major problem for the measurement of Ca-41 with TAMS is the fact that calcium does not readily form negative atomic ions. It does, however, form negative molecular ions. The production of CaO ions from compounds such as CaO and CaCO3 and from free Ca molecules sprayed with oxygen gas was studied. A project to utilize I-129 as a tracer for hydrothermal convection in sediment-covered oceanic crust is also briefly described. Finally, plans to use the Os-187/Os-186 ratio for the determination of extraterrestrial material in the Ries crater in Germany are summarized.

Fehn, U.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Be-10 and Cl-36 depth profiles in an Apollo 15 drill core

The present study of galactic cosmic ray production profiles by means of tandem accelerator mass spectrometry has measured cosmic ray-produced Be-10 and Cl-36, whose half-attenuation lengths are respectively calculated to be 120 and 132 g/sq cm. The measured half-attenuation lengths for Be-10 are noted to be slightly longer than predicted by the Reedy-Arnold (1972) theoretical model. Secondary thermal neutron production from Cl-35 is invoked as an explanation for the flatter and deeper maximum seen in the Cl-36 profile.

Nishiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Measurements of I-129 in meteorites and lunar rock by tandem accelerator mass spectrometry

Precise measurements of the half-life of I-129 in three different meteorites and one lunar surface rock are reported. The meteorite source of I-129 was produced by cosmic ray secondary neutron reactions on Te, while the source in lunar materials in spallation on barium and rare earth elements. The Abee, Allende, and Dhajala meteorites were examined, together with the lunar rock 14310. Details of the process used to extract the iodine are provided. The Abee and Allende samples exhibited a production of 0.5 atom/min per gm of Te from the (n,2n) reaction and 0.05 atom/min/gm for the (n,gamma) reaction. The I-129 is concluded to be a viable tool for long-lived cosmogenic nuclide studies. Further work to extend the data to include the constancy of the cosmic ray flux, the meteorite bombardment history, and the cosmic exposure age dating by means of the I-129 and Xe-129 method is indicated.

Nizhiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Dynamic gas temperature measurement system

The development of an advanced measuring system which measures the rapidly varying gas temperature at the exit of an aircraft jet engine combustor during ground based testing of hot section components was identified. Sensor guidelines, technical approach/program schedule, and the accomplishments are reviewed. The environment of a present generation combustor is shown. The method uses two beadless junctions type-B thermocouples to measure heat transfer coefficient in situ. Heat conduction effects are shown by a finite element model of the thermocouple.

Elmore, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Cosmic-ray-produced Cl-36 and Mn-53 in Allan Hills-77 meteorites

Cosmic-ray-produced Mn-53 has been determined by neutron activation in nine Allan Hills-77 meteorites. Additionally, Cl-36 has been measured in seven of these objects using tandem accelerator mass spectrometry. These results, along with C-14 and Al-26 concentrations determined elsewhere, yield terrestrial ages ranging from 10,000 to 700,000 years. Weathering was not found to result in Mn-53 loss.

Nishiizumi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Cl-36 in polar ice, rainwater and seawater

Concentrations of the cosmogenic radioisotope Cl-36 in Antarctic ice, rain, and an upper limit of the seawater value are determined using van de Graaff accelerator high energy mass spectrometry. Cl-36 concentrations in Antarctic ice range between 2.5 to 8.7 x 10 to the 6th atoms Cl-36/kg, while those concentrations in samples collected at the Alan Hills ice field locations where meteorites have been brought to the surface by glacial flow and ablation are found to vary by more than a factor of three. This variation is attributed either to the effects of atmospheric mixing and scavenging or to radioactive decay in old ice. The Cl-36 concentration found in a present sample of rainwater is much lower than that reported in samples collected in the early 1960's, suggesting the occurrence of a decrease in the concentration of atmospheric Cl-36 derived from nuclear weapons tests over this time period.

Finkel, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Half-life of Si-32 from tandem-accelerator mass spectrometry

A newly developed mass-spectrometry technique employing a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator together with a special beam-transport system and heavy-ion detector has been used to determine the half-life of Si-32. The result obtained, 108 plus or minus 18 yr, disagrees with the accepted value of 330 plus or minus 40 yr. The implications of the new half-life of Si-32, which is used for dating studies, are discussed.

Elmore, D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Measurements of Cl-36 in Antarctic meteorites and Antarctic ice using a Van de Graaff accelerator

The paper presents measurements of cosmic-ray produced (Cl-36) in Antarctic meteorites and ice using a Van de Graaff accelerator as an ultrasensitive mass spectrometer. Results from this ion counting technique are used to support a two-stage irradiation model for the Yamato-7301 and Allan Hills-76008 meteorites and to show a long terrestrial age for Allan Hills-77002. Yamato-7304 has a terrestrial age of less than 0.1 m.y., and the (Cl-36) content of the Antarctic ice sample from the Yamato mountain is consistent with levels expected in currently depositing snow implying that the age of the ice cap at this site is less than on (Cl-36) half-life.

Nishiizumi, K.↗