Abstract
Elemental abundances of noble gases in siliceous microfossils from deep‐sea sediments were determined employing the stepwise heating technique. Almost all the Ar and about 80% of the total Kr were released in the lowest temperature fraction of 800°C. Only Xe was released in higher temperature fractions, suggesting that Xe was tightly trapped inside silica. The Xe concentrations of siliceous microfossils seem to lie on the correlation line of Xe content vs. the temperature of geothermal water obtained for amorphous silica of geothermal origin. The selective trapping of Xe at high temperatures in amorphous silica indicated the possibility that amorphous silica is the reservoir of the terrestrial "missing" Xe. However, quantitative calculation showed that the total amount of Xe in amorphous silica could be at most only 5‐20 % of the total "missing" Xe.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
