<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">We performed stepwise heating experiments for determination of the two stable isotope ratios of argon fractions and total concentrations of the three stable isotopes 36Ar, 38Ar and 40Ar in lunar regolith acquired from the Apollo 11, Apollo 12 and Apollo16 missions. Also the concentration of <italic>in situ</italic> formed radiogenic 40Ar was estimated on the basis of known ages and potassium concentrations determined by isotope dilution method. The observed excess of 40Ar concentration is interpreted to be due to variable (over geological time) flux of solar energetic particles which were implanted into the material at the Moon surface.</abstract>

We performed stepwise heating experiments for determination of the two stable isotope ratios of argon fractions and total concentrations of the three stable isotopes 36Ar, 38Ar and 40Ar in lunar regolith acquired from the Apollo 11, Apollo 12 and Apollo16 missions. Also the concentration of in situ formed radiogenic 40Ar was estimated on the basis of known ages and potassium concentrations determined by isotope dilution method. The observed excess of 40Ar concentration is interpreted to be due to variable (over geological time) flux of solar energetic particles which were implanted into the material at the Moon surface.

Argon Stable Isotope Concentrations in Lunar Regolith

Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Plac Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 1, 20-031 Lublin, Poland

Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Analytische Chemie, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55099 Mainz, Germany

Geochronometria

{"article-title":"Argon Stable Isotope Concentrations in Lunar Regolith"}

We performed stepwise heating experiments for determination of the two stable isotope ratios of argon fractions and total concentrations of the three stable...

Argon Stable Isotope Concentrations in Lunar Regolith

Published Online: Jun 16, 2009

Page range: 37 - 39

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10003-009-0002-8

Keywords
Moon, regolith, argon origin, argon isotopes, radiogenic Ar, Sun

This content is open access.

Argon Stable Isotope Concentrations in Lunar Regolith

Published Online: Jun 16, 2009

Page range: 37 - 39

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10003-009-0002-8

KeywordsMoon, regolith, argon origin, argon isotopes, radiogenic Ar, Sun

This content is open access.

Keywords
Moon, regolith, argon origin, argon isotopes, radiogenic Ar, Sun