Radionuclides at Descartes in the central highlandsThroium, uranium, potassium, aluminium-26, and sodium-22 were measured by nondestructive gamma ray spectrometry in six soil and two rock samples gathered by Apollo 16 in the lunar central highlands. The soil samples probably include both major geologic formations in the vicinity, the Cayley and Descartes Formations, although it is possible that the Descartes Formation is not represented. The rock samples have low concentrations of primordial radionuclides. The Al concentrations were lower than could be expected from the high abundance of alumina in the Apollo 16 soils reported earlier, but this could be due to lower concentrations of target elements in these soils, sampling depth variations, or regolithic mixing (exposure age variations).
Document ID
19740040201
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Wrigley, R. C. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)