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Measuring Isotope Ratios Across the Solar SystemStable isotope ratios in C, H, N, O and S are powerful indicators of a wide variety of planetary geophysical processes that can identify origin, transport, temperature history, radiation exposure, atmospheric escape, environmental habitability and biology [1]. For the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite, for example, the (sup 1)(sup 3)C/(sup 1)(sup 2)C ratio identifies it as a Mars (SNC) meteorite; the ??K/??Ar ratio tells us the last time the rock cooled to solid, namely 4 Gya; isotope ratios in (sup 3)He, (sup 2)(sup 1)Ne and (sup 3)?Ar show it was in space (cosmic ray exposure) for 10-20 million years; (sup 1)?C dating that it sat in Antarctica for 13,000 years before discovery; and clumped isotope analysis of (sup 1)?O(sup 1)(sup 3)C(sup 1)?O in its carbonate that it was formed at 18+/-4 ?C in a near-surface aqueous environment [2]. Solar System Formation
Document ID
20130010648
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Webster, Chris R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mahaffy, Paul R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
October 15, 2012
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Workshop on Planetary Instruments
Location: Greenbelt, MD`
Country: United States
Start Date: October 15, 2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
planetary geophysical process
terrestrial planets

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