Laboratory studies of actinide partitioning relevant to 244Pu chronometryActinide partitioning and light lanthanide fractionation have been studied to gain an understanding of Pu chemistry under meteoritic and lunar conditions. The goal of the study was to identify conditions and samples from which chronological information can be retrieved. The laboratory investigations involved particle track radiography of the crystal/liquid partitioning of Th, U and Pu among diopsidic clinopyroxene, whitlockite and liquid. It is found that trivalent Pu plays an important role in partitioning for lunar and most meteoritic conditions. The use of Pu/Nd for relative age assessments is supported to some extent by the investigations; samples with unfractionated U, Th and Nd abundances (relative to average solar system values) may be suitable for Pu chronometry.
Document ID
19790055159
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Benjamin, T. (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.; Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington D.C., United States)
Heuser, W. R. (California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Burnett, D. S. (California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)