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At least 127 records · Page 7

The irradiation history of lunar samples

Apollo 11 and 12 lunar samples history of irradiation exposure to galactic cosmic rays and solar wind, using rare gas and Gd isotope measurements

Burnett, D. S.↗

High voltage transmission microscopy of Surveyor 3 camera shrouds

The internal structure of painted and unpainted aluminum alloy sheet samples from the TV camera shrouds were examined by high-voltage transmission electron microscopy. No clear-cut evidence of radiation damage effects was observed. Noticeable differences in microstructures between the upper visor and the sides and bottom of the lower shroud suggest different thermal histories, and the maximum temperatures due to solar heating are estimated to be between 164 and 319 C. Some correlation between microstructures and maximum estimated temperature is noted. It is felt that the apparent temperature rise due to solar heating will not affect the structural integrity of spacecraft components except possibly for very long periods of exposure. However, substantial thermal diffusion could affect interpretation of solar wind rare gas studies.

Fisher, R. M.↗

Inversion problem for ion-atom differential elastic scattering.

The paper describes a practical application of Remler's (1971) method by which one constructs a set of phase shifts from high resolution measurements of the differential elastic scattering of protons by rare-gas atoms. These JWKB phase shifts are then formally inverted to determine the corresponding intermolecular potentials. The validity of the method is demonstrated by comparing an intermolecular potential obtained by direct inversion of experimental data with a fairly accurate calculation by Wolniewicz (1965).

Rich, W. G.↗

Isotopic compositions of rare gases in the carbonaceous chondrites Mokoia and Allende.

The isotopic compositions have been measured mass spectrometrically for neon, argon, krypton and xenon released from the carbonaceous chondrites Mokoia and Allende in stepwise heating experiments. The isotopic compositions of rare gases released from the meteorites at different temperatures varied quite considerably. A marked enrichment of Xe129 due to the decay of extinct nuclide I129 was observed in both meteorites. The variations of the isotopic ratios are partly caused by the presence of cosmic-ray spallation and neutron-capture products. In addition, however, a marked trend of mass-dependent variation of the isotopic ratios was observed in this work. The rare gas isotopes released from the meteorites appear to be systematically mass-fractionated relative to the relative abundances of the average carbonaceous chondrite. It seems that this phenomenon can be best explained as due to the fact that there exist reservoirs of two isotopically distinct gases in the meteorites and mixtures of these gases are being released at each temperature fraction.

Manuel, O. K.↗

Solar flare and galactic cosmic ray studies of Apollo 14 and 15 samples.

Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements in rock 14310 show a strong depth dependence consistent with that expected from solar flares. This effect should prove useful in studying solar flare fluctuations in the time interval of 100 to 100,000 years. Rare gas spallation ages for rock 14301, 14306, and 14311 are respectively 102 plus or minus 30, 25 plus or minus 2, and 661 plus or minus 72 m.y. The 14306 value supports the idea that Cone Crater was formed 25 million years ago. Groupings of exposure ages suggest the dates of other major cratering events. Galactic track data in 14310 show little depth dependence.

Crozaz, G.↗

Estimation of dipole-quadrupole dispersion energies.

The calculation of the dipole-quadrupole dispersion coefficient is discussed through a perturbation and a variation method. Accurate combination rules are obtained from both methods, one new and one already known. Further approximations permit computations in terms of accessible parameters. Values are calculated for the interactions of atomic pairs formed from hydrogen, alkali, and rare-gas atoms. A new relation giving the dipole-quadrupole coefficient in terms of the dipole-dipole coefficient and the dipole and quadrupole polarizabilities seems accurate, but needs further testing.

Alvarez-Rizzatti, M.↗

Absolute photon-flux measurements in the vacuum ultraviolet

Absolute photon-flux measurements in the vacuum ultraviolet have extended to short wavelengths by use of rare-gas ionization chambers. The technique involves the measurement of the ion current as a function of the gas pressure in the ion chamber. The true value of the ion current, and hence the absolute photon flux, is obtained by extrapolating the ion current to zero gas pressure. Examples are given at 162 and 266 A. The short-wavelength limit is determined only by the sensitivity of the current-measuring apparatus and by present knowledge of the photoionization processes that occur in the rate gases.

Samson, J. A. R.↗

Lunar Science Conference, 4th, Houston, Tex., March 5-8, 1973, Proceedings. Volume 1 - Mineralogy and petrology. Volume 2 - Chemical and isotope analyses. Organic chemistry. Volume 3 - Physical properties

The mineralogy, petrology, chemistry, isotopic composition, and physical properties of lunar materials are described in papers detailing methods, results, and implications of research on samples returned from eight lunar landing sites: Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and Luna 16 and 20. The results of experiments conducted or set up on the lunar surface by the astronauts are also described along with observations taken from Command Modules and subsatellites. Major topics include general geology, soil and breccia studies, petrologic studies, mineralogic analyses, elemental compositions, radiometric age determinations, rare gas chemistry, radionuclides, organogenic compounds, particle track records, thermal properties, seismic studies, resonance studies, orbital mapping, lunar atmosphere, magnetic studies, electrical studies, optical properties, and microcratering. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Gose, W. A.↗

Krypton and xenon in lunar fines

Data from grain-size separates, stepwise-heated fractions, and bulk analyses of 20 samples of fines and breccias from five lunar sites are used to define three-isotope and ordinate intercept correlations in an attempt to resolve the lunar heavy rare gas system in a statistically valid approach. Tables of concentrations and isotope compositions are given.

Basford, J. R.↗

Ar-40/Ar-39 ages and trace element contents of Apollo 14 breccias - An interlaboratory cross-calibration of Ar-40/Ar-39 standards

Rare gas data are presented from step-wise heatings of lunar breccias 14066 and 14318 and from an interlaboratory cross-calibration of five standards used in Ar-40/Ar-39 dating. While different in detail, the Ar release patterns in the four samples yield indistinguishable plateau ages of 3.93 plus or minus 0.03 b.y. and above 400 C total ages of 3.87 plus or minus 0.06 b.y. Concentrations of K, Ca, Ba, Br, U and I are given for 14318 and 14066. We also present an updating of all of the Ar-40/Ar-39 ages and trace element concentrations previously published by this laboratory.

Alexander, E. C., Jr.↗

K-Ar analysis of Apollo 11 fines 10084

Regolithic history of Mare Tranquillitatus is studied with rare gas and mass spectrometric techniques. Grain size-ordinate intercept analysis is applied to bulk soil, ilmenite, and plagioclase separates obtained from 1 mm or smaller fines sample 10084,48. K-Ar ages for ilmenite, plagioclase, and total soil separates are determined to be 2.80, 3.38 and 4.00 AE, respectively. It appears that 10084,48 may consist primarily of two components. In this view, the first is locally derived, forms 65-75% of the present day regolith and may show that a local degassing event(s) occurred between 2.8 and 3.5 AE ago. The second component is similar to material from the lunar highlands. It may be local or foreign in origin and contributes the remaining 25-35% of the soil. This component exhibits an age of 4.00 AE and is either slightly older than, or contemporaneous with, the oldest of the returned Apollo 11 basalts. Within the limits of experimental error, the trapped Ar-38/Ar-36 ratio is constant at 0.1890 for all the soil components examined.

Basford, J. R.↗

The San Juan Capistrano meteorite

The San Juan Capistrano chondrite fell on 15 March 1973; the total recovered mass was 56 g. Electron microprobe, chemical and petrographic studies show it to be a member of the H group and of petrologic type 6. Rare gas studies show that only minor radiogenic gas loss has occurred and yield a K-Ar age of 4.6 billion years and a Kr-Kr exposure age of 29 million years.

Finkel, R. C.↗

Cosmic ray exposure ages of features and events at the Apollo landing sites

Cosmic-ray exposure ages of lunar samples have been used to date surface features related to impact cratering and downslope movement of material. Only when multiple samples related to a feature have the same rare-gas exposure age or when a single sample has the same Kr-81 -Kr and track-exposure age can a feature be considered as reliably dated. Based on these criteria, there are only five well-dated lunar features: Cone Crater (Apollo 14), 26 m.y,; North Ray Crater (Apollo 16), 50 m.y.; South Ray Crater (Apollo 16), 2 m.y.; the emplacement of the Station 6 boulders (Apollo 17), 22 m.y.; and the emplacement of the Station 7 boulder (Apollo 17), 28 m.y. Other features are tentatively dated or have limits set on their ages: Bench Crater (Apollo 12), upper limit of 99 m.y.; Baby Ray Crater (Apollo 16), upper limit of 2 m.y.; Shorty Crater (Apollo 17), approximately 30 m.y.; Camelot Crater (Apollo 17) upper limit of 140 m.y.; the emplacement of the Station 2 boulder 1 (Apollo 17), 45 to 55 m.y.; and the slide which generated the light mantle (Apollo 17), lower limit of 50 m.y.

Arvidson, R.↗

Diffusion artifacts in dating by stepwise thermal release of rare gases

It is demonstrated that the age of an isochron of apparent age plateau can be easily altered during a thermal release experiment, and that constant rare gas compositions can be observed which are artifacts of the experimental technique and are not chronologically meaningful. Examples are selected from 40Ar-39Ar dating of lunar samples in which anomalous variations in apparent ages can be ascribed to such experimental artifacts.

Huneke, J. C.↗