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Fission xenon from extinct Pu-244 in 14,301.Xenon extracted in step-wise heating of lunar breccia 14,301 contains a fission-like component in excess of that attributable to uranium decay during the age of the solar system. There seems to be no adequate source for this component other than Pu-244. Verification that this component is in fact due to the spontaneous fission of extinct Pu-244 comes from the derived spectrum which is similar to that observed from artificially produced Pu-244. It thus appears that Pu-244 was extant at the time lunar crustal material cooled sufficiently to arrest the thermal diffusion of xenon. Subsequent history has apparently maintained the isotopic integrity of plutonium fission xenon. Of major importance are details of the storage itself. Either the fission component is the result of in situ fission of Pu-244 and subsequent storage in 14,301 material, or the fission xenon was stored in an intermediate reservoir before incorporation into 14,301.
Document ID
19720055516
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Drozd, R.
Hohenberg, C. M.
Ragan, D.
(Washington University St. Louis, Mo., United States)
Date Acquired
August 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1972
Publication Information
Publication: Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume: 15
Subject Category
Space Sciences
Accession Number
72A39182
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-26-008-065
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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