Durch Spallationsreaktionen und Neutroneneinfang erzeugtes 36Cl in Meteoriten und die prae-atmosphärische Größe von Steinmeteoriten

Abstract

The 36Cl produced by spallation reactions and neutron capture on 35Cl has been measured separately in three stone meteorites and one iron meteorite. The spallation produced 36Cl activities - given in dpm per kg (Fe+Ni + 10 x Ca) -have been found to be (20.5 ±2) for Abee - Centre, (21.8 ±2) for Abee - Surface, (21.3 -26.2) for Leedey, and ≦ (22 ±10) for Norton County- Surface. They are in good agreement with those found in iron meteorites of comparable size and known terrestrial age. The neutron induced activities in the same samples are (0.21 ±0.2), (0.08 ± 0.17), (1.7 ±1), and ≦ (30 ± 15) dpm/100 mg Cl. In spite of the large uncertainties highly significant conclusions can be drawn from these data regarding the mass loss of the meteorites during approximately the last million years, either by space erosion or due to ablation during the passage through the terrestrial atmosphere. Based on calculations of EBERHARDT, GEISS, and LUTZ the ratio of post-atmospheric to pre-atmospheric radius derived for the three meteorites is Abee: rM/R=0.86 or rΜ/R > 0.7 on the 3 σ significance level, Leedey (meteorite shower): rM/R=0.5, and Norton County: rM/R=0.77 or rM/R > 0.63 (3 σ level). No neutron induced activity could be detected in the iron meteorite Cranbourne (Nr. 4). The total and spallation produced 36Cl of two adjacent samples - although differing in their Cl content by more than a factor of twenty-was the same within the experimental limits of error (4.7 ± 0.2) dpm/kg. The low value is attributed to a high terrestrial age and/or the size of this meteorite. 39Ar could not be detected (< 0.64 dpm/kg. 3 σ level).