Implications of atmospheric Ar-40 escape on the interior structure of the moonRadiogenic Ar-40 escapes from the lunar atmosphere at a rate of about 2 x 10 to the 21st atoms/sec. This amounts to 8% of the rate of argon production in the entire moon by potassium decay. A curious feature of the argon escape rate is a variability with time scale of several months. It is shown that the variation in argon loss correlates with high-frequency lunar teleseismic events. The only apparent region of the moon which could possibly supply the amount of argon needed for escape via a plausible temporal mechanism is a semimolten asthenosphere which may be entirely primitive unfractionated lunar material, or an Fe-FeS core that is enriched in potassium. A core that is devoid of potassium is not compatible with the atmospheric argon measurements.
Document ID
19780062875
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Hodges, R. R., Jr. (Texas Univ. at Dallas Richardson, TX, United States)
Hoffman, J. H. (Texas, University Richardson, Tex., United States)