M. Rowe
Mar 1, 1967
Citations
0
Influential Citations
21
Citations
Journal
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Abstract
Abstract Examination of the isotopic composition of xenon from achondrites reveals that the 124 Xe, 126 Xe, 128 Xe and 130 Xe are all linearly correlated indicating only two principal components for these isotopes-trapped and cosmic ray produced xenon. No evidence is found for the reaction 127 I(n, γβ) 128 Xe in the achondrites. We thus place approximate limits on the neutron flux relative to the flux in the Abee chondrite. A correlation in the plot of 124 Xe/ 130 Xe versus 129 Xe/ 130 Xe points to a 129 Xe/ 126 Xe ratio of ≤ 0.84 in xenon from cosmic ray spallation and allows us to set a lower limit on the amount of radiogenic 129 Xe from the decay of extinct 129 I in the achondrites. The average value of ≳4.4 × 10 −12 cm 3 /g excess 129 I for achondrites contrasts with typical values of ∼ 10 −10 cm 3 /g for ordinary chondrites and ∼ 10 −9 cm 3 /g for enstatite chondrites.