Investigations on cosmic-ray-produced nuclides in iron meteorites, 3. Exposure ages, meteoroid sizes and sample depths determined by mass spectrometric analyses of potassium and rare gases

Abstract

Three physical quantities define the essentials of the cosmic ray exposure history of a sample of an iron meteorite: (1) the cosmic ray exposure age T, (2) the pre-atmospheric “size” S of the irradiated body, and (3) the location, i.e. the “depth” D, of the samples within the body. To establish these quantities for a given sample three independent quantities must be determined experimentally. In the present work T is ascertained by the 41K/ 40K method and the 4He and 21Ne concentrations ( C 4 and C 21) are measured by the isotope dilution method. Signer and Nier's evaluation of the rare gas distribution in the meteorite Grant and the measured exposure age for this meteorite provide the relationships allowing to ascertain for any meteorite the quantities S and D from the 21Ne production rate ( P 21 = C 21/ T) and the 4He/ 21Ne ratio. Earlier measurements have provided data on the isotopic composition of potassium in 74 different iron meteorites. New rare gas measurements are reported for some 40 samples. Results on the age, size and depth are obtained for almost 60 samples. These data suggest that Signer and Nier's model is well suited for describing not only the rare gas distribution in a single selected meteorite (Grant) but also the exposure histories of the great majority of all irons. For a few samples, however, secondary breakups of the meteoroid and a two- or multiple-stage irradiation must be invoked. Further measurements are proposed for testing and, possibly, refining the still somewhat uncertain relationships between the abundances of cosmogenic nuclides and the quantities T, S, and D in very large meteorites. Histograms are presented showing the age distributions for irons of different chemical groups and of different size ranges. The feasibility and the relative merits of other methods for the determination of T, S, and D are discussed.