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At least 307 records · Page 17

Ion microprobe mass analysis of lunar samples. Lunar sample program

Mass analyses of selected minerals, glasses and soil particles of lunar, meteoritic and terrestrial rocks have been made with the ion microprobe mass analyzer. Major, minor and trace element concentrations have been determined in situ in major and accessory mineral phases in polished rock thin sections. The Pb isotope ratios have been measured in U and Th bearing accessory minerals to yield radiometric age dates and heavy volatile elements have been sought on the surfaces of free particles from Apollo soil samples.

Anderson, C. A.↗

The geologic evolution of the moon

A synthesis of pre- and post-Apollo 11 studies is presented to produce an outline of the moon's geologic evolution from three lines of evidence: (1) relative ages of lunar landforms and rock types, (2) absolute ages of returned lunar samples, and (3) petrography, chemistry, and isotopic ratios of lunar rocks and soils. It is assumed that the ray craters, circular mare basins, and most intermediate circular landforms are primarily of impact origin, although many other landforms are volcanic or of hybrid origin. The moon's evolution is divided into four main stages, each including several distinct but overlapping events or processes.

Lowman, P. D., Jr.↗

Atmospheric and surface properties of Mars obtained by infrared spectroscopy on Mariner 9

The infrared spectroscopy experiment on Mariner 9 obtained data over much of Mars. Interpretation of the thermal emission of Mars in terms of atmospheric temperatures, wind fields and dynamics, surface temperatures, surface pressure and topography, mineral composition, and minor atmospheric constituents including isotopic ratios, as well as a search for unexpected phenomena are reported.

Conrath, B.↗

Apollo 16 neutron stratigraphy.

The Apollo 16 soils have the largest low-energy neutron fluences yet observed in lunar samples. Variations in the isotopic ratios Gd-158/Gd-157 and Sm-150/Sm-149 (up to 1.9 and 2.0%, respectively) indicate that the low-energy neutron fluence in the Apollo 16 drill stem increases with depth throughout the section sampled. Such a variation implies that accretion has been the dominant regolith 'gardening' process at this location. The data may be fit by a model of continuous accretion of pre-irradiated material or by models involving as few as two slabs of material in which the first slab could have been deposited as long as 1 b.y. ago. The ratio of the number of neutrons captured per atom by Sm to the number captured per atom by Gd is lower than in previously measured lunar samples, which implies a lower energy neutron spectrum at this site. The variation of this ratio with chemical composition is qualitatively similar to that predicted by Lingenfelter et al. (1972). Variations are observed in the ratio Gd-152/Gd-160 which are fluence-correlated and probably result from neutron capture by Eu-151.

Russ, G. P., III↗

A survey of the selenochemistry of major, minor and trace elements.

Average data for igneous and/or metaigneous rocks and soils from seven lunar sites are presented. There are compositional similarities between Apollo 11 and Luna 16 eastern maria, Ap 12 and 15 western maria, and between Ap 16 and L 20 highlands. Subtle differences do exist between the paired mare sites and the two highland sites and striking differences between the eastern and western maria. Chondritic normalized REE (rare earth element) patterns for igneous rocks and soils from all sites range from 7-350 generally with negative Eu anomalies. Anorthositic gabbroes to anorthosites, presumably highland material, exhibit a positive Eu anomaly. The REE patterns or Sr isotopic ratios suggest two lava flows each for the L 16 and Ap 14 sites, at least four lava flows for the Ap 11 and 12 site and about six for the Ap 15 site.

Schmitt, R. A.↗

Deuterium and tritium from solar flares at approximately 10 MeV per nucleon

It is indicated that the observations with the high-resolution solid-state charged-particle telescopes of the IMP-5 and IMP-6 earth satellites have resolved all the hydrogen and helium isotopes of solar-flare origin in groups of solar flares during the period from September, 1969, through November, 1972. The values obtained for the average isotope ratios are given and are compared with previous values. It is concluded that the observed high yields of H(2), H(3) and He(3) can be explained only by high-energy nuclear interactions and that an acceleration process must have taken place in the chromosphere at that time.

Anglin, J. D.↗

Water and carbon in rusty lunar rock 66095

The reported study of the lunar rock 66095 included the determination of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen isotope ratios. One group of experiments with rock 66095 and meteoritic rust involved the examination of the O-18 content of the oxygen in the ferric oxide found on the rock and the determination of the O-18 content in the oxygen of the adsorbed or hydration water. It is suggested that the enrichment of the rock 66095 in volatile materials is caused by volcanic or fumarolic activity. Water released by such activity may be juvenile lunar water.

Friedman, I.↗

A mass spectrometer concept for identifying planetary atmosphere composition

The design and use of mass spectrometers to measure and identify atmospheric gas compositions of planets are discussed. Special emphasis during the design phase was given to dynamic range that the instrument must have, mass range the instrument must cover, and precision of the measurements that are necessary, for example to confirm isotope ratios. Some problems encountered in the use of the instrument are illustrated using data from the Pioneer-Venus program.

Spencer, N. W.↗

The silicon monoxide radical and the atmosphere of alpha Orionis

We present new molecular constants, line positions, and transition probabilities for the first-overtone vibration-rotation bands in the X 1 Sigma+ electronic ground state of SiO, together with an estimate of the SiO abundance and silicon isotope ratios in the atmosphere of alpha Ori.

Beer, R.↗

Apollo 17 neutron stratigraphy - Sedimentation and mixing in the lunar regolith

A report is presented concerning the Gd isotopic ratios in ten samples, representing nearly the entire depth of the drill stem which was recovered during the Apollo 17 mission. The lunar neutron energy spectrum is discussed along with questions regarding neutron fluence and neutron flux. The significance of the Apollo 17 deep drill stem is considered and attention is given to the statistical nature of the fluence in the lunar regolith. Vertical mixing models are also described.

Curtis, D. B.↗

A survey of carbon monoxide emission in dark clouds

Results are reported of a CO and (C-13)O survey of 68 dark clouds from the Lynds catalog. CO was detected in 63 of the 64 sources in which it was searched for, and the (C-13)O line was seen in 52 of 55 clouds. There is a rather narrow distribution of CO peak line radiation temperatures about a mean of 6 K; this may reflect the presence of a roughly uniform kinetic temperature of 9.5 K in the sources. Despite the probably subthermal excitation temperature of the (C-13)O transition observed, derived (C-13)O column densities are most likely good to within a factor of 2. Typical CO column densities for the clouds surveyed are 5 x 10 to the 17-th power per sq cm, assuming a terrestrial carbon isotope ratio. All 68 clouds have previously been studied by Dieter in 6-cm H2CO absorption; a comparison of line widths shows the (C-13)O lines to generally be wider than their formaldehyde counterparts. Possible explanations of this fact in terms of internal cloud motions are discussed.

Dickman, R. L.↗

Heavy particle emission of unusual composition from the sun

Sustained emission of low energy (0.6-4 MeV/nuc) solar particles with a composition richer in iron than in oxygen is observed in three time periods of 1974. The relative abundances of Ne, Mg, Si, and S-Ca to O are also enhanced as compared to those of the sun and of solar cosmic rays. During all three periods, a large H-3/H-4 isotope ratio was also observed; for two cases, it is in the order of unity. On the other hand, the d/H-4 and the T/He-4 are less than 0.04 and 0.02 respectively. The solar activity during the time periods of the reported emission was low. At present, it is not clear whether the emission processes which yielded enriched heavy ions also produced the He-3 enhancement. It seems that any explanation of heavy ion enrichments in solar cosmic rays has to explain also the He-3 enrichment.

Hovestadt, D.↗

Earth tides, volcanos and climatic change

The effect of variations in tidal stresses on the earth caused by the sun and moon on volcanic activity and climate is investigated. A statistically significant correlation is found between the derivatives of the envelopes of peak tidal stresses at high northern latitudes and the mean temperature of the Northern Hemisphere as reflected in oxygen isotope ratios in the Greenland ice cap. It is suggested that variations in tidal stresses cause changes in the amount of stratospheric dust produced by volcanic activity, which affects the thickness of the stratospheric dust veil and the atmospheric radiation balance. For a simple model, periodic variations in tidal stress account for 13% of the variance in the ice-core temperature record.

Roosen, R. G.↗