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Lunar nitrogen: Secular variation or mixing?The two current models to explain the nearly 40% variation of the lunar nitrogen isotopic composition are: (1) secular variation of solar wind nitrogen; and (2) a two component mixing model having a constant, heavy solar wind admixed with varying amounts of indigenous light lunar N (LLN). Both models are needed to explain the step pyrolysis extraction profile. The secular variation model proposes that the low temperature release is modern day solar wind implanted into grain surfaces, the 900 C to 1100 C release is from grain surfaces which were once exposed to the ancient solar wind but which are now trapped inside agglutinates, and the >1100 C release as spallogenic N produced by cosmic rays. The mixing model ascribes the components to solar wind, indigenous lunar N and spallogenic N respectively. An extension of either interpretation is that the light N seen in lunar breccias or deep drill cores represent conditions when more N-14 was available to the lunar surface.
Document ID
19860018561
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Norris, S. J.
(Cambridge Univ. Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Wright, I. P.
(Cambridge Univ. Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Pillinger, C. T.
(Cambridge Univ. Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst. Workshop on Past and Present Solar Radiation: The Record in Meteoritic and Lunar Regolith Material
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
86N28033
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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