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Calculations of the moon's thermal history at different concentrations of radioactive elements, taking into account differentiation on meltingCalculations of the thermal history of the moon were done by solving the thermal conductivity equation for the case in which the heat sources are the long lived radioactive elements Th, U, and K-40. The concentrations of these elements were adjusted to give 4 variations of heat flow. Calculations indicated that the moon's interior was heated to melting during the first 0.7 to 2.3 x 10 to the 9th power years. The maximum fusion involved practically the entire moon to a distance from 15 to 45 km beneath the surface, and started 3.5 to 4.0 x 10 to the 9th power years ago, or 2.5 x 3.0 x 10 to the 9th power years ago and continued for 1 to 2 x 10 to the 9th power years. The moon today is cooling. The current thickness of the solid crust is from 150 to 200 km and the heat flow exceeds the stationary value 1.5 fold.
Document ID
19780005004
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ornatskaya, O. I.
(Scientific Research Inst. of Radio Physics Gorky, Ussr)
Alber, Y. I.
(Scientific Research Inst. of Radio Physics Gorky, Ussr)
Ryazantseva, I. L.
(Scientific Research Inst. of Radio Physics Gorky, Ussr)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington The Soviet-Am. Conf. on Cosmochem. of the Moon and Planets, pt. 1
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
78N12947
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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