Loss Of He Research Articles

Hematite Frictional Behavior and He Loss From Comminution During Deformation Experiments at Slow Slip Rates

AbstractDeformation experiments on hematite characterize its slip‐rate dependent frictional properties and deformation mechanisms. These data inform interpretations of slip behavior from exhumed hematite‐coated faults and present‐day deformation at depth. We used a rotary‐shear apparatus to conduct single‐velocity and velocity‐step experiments on polycrystalline specular hematite rock (∼17 μm average plate thickness) at slip rates of 0.85 μm/s to 320 mm/s, displacements of primarily 1–3 cm and up to 45 cm, and normal stresses of 5 and 8.5 MPa. The average coefficient of friction is 0.70; velocity‐step experiments indicate velocity‐strengthening to velocity‐neutral behavior at rates <1 mm/s. Scanning electron microscopy showed experimentally generated faults develop in a semi‐continuous, thin layer of red hematite gouge. Angular gouge particles have an average diameter of ∼0.7 μm, and grain size reduction during slip yields a factor of 10–100 increase in surface area. Hematite is amenable to (U‐Th)/He thermochronometry, which can quantify fault‐related thermal and mechanical processes. Comparison of hematite (U‐Th)/He dates from the undeformed material and experimentally produced gouge indicates He loss occurs during comminution at slow deformation rates without an associated temperature rise required for diffusive loss. Our results imply that, in natural fault rocks, deformation localizes within coarse‐grained hematite by stable sliding, and that hematite (U‐Th)/He dates acquired from ultracataclasite or highly comminuted gouge reflect minor He loss unrelated to thermal processes. Consequently, the magnitude of temperature rise and associated thermal resetting in hematite‐bearing fault rocks based on (U‐Th)/He thermochronometry may be overestimated if only diffusive loss of He is considered.

Constraining fault architecture and fluid flow using crustal noble gases

Deformational features, such as faults, strongly affect the pathways, rates, and length-scales of fluid flow in sedimentary basins. The hydrologic properties of faults vary greatly, allowing them to exhibit hydrologic behaviors spanning the gamut from open and conductive pathways for fluid flow to closed barriers to fluid flow. As a result, determining the role of faults with respect to fluid flow and their impact on geologic fluid migration throughout the life cycle of sedimentary basins remains challenging. Previous studies interrogate fault behavior using structural characteristics of fault cores and damage zones or the geochemistry of fluid inclusions and mineral veins associated with these features. Here, we evaluate the utility of crustal noble gases as tracers of fluid flow in fault systems by examining the composition of a well-constrained fault system in the Northern Appalachian Basin. The Seneca Stone Thrust fault, located near Seneca Falls, NY, USA, displays ~5 m of offset in the Onondaga Limestone and Marcellus Shale. Significant loss of 4He and 21Ne* near the fault appears to occur prior to basin exhumation, likely resulting from compactive dewatering or hydrocarbon generation and migration. Subsequent cooling shifted fault function from acting as a conduit to acting as a barrier, allowing accumulation of crustal noble gases for extended geologic time (~140 Myr) apparently in a closed-system. We identify significantly lower [4He] and 4He/21Ne* in a discrete zone that includes the fault core and extends ~30 cm into the intensely fractured portion of the fault damage zone as compared to the rest of the fault damage zone (~5 m in width) and other nearby samples from the Marcellus Fm. in the quarry pavement. These results imply that the Seneca Stone Thrust fault has reverted to behaving like a localized conduit in recent geological time. We interpret the discrete zone of extreme 4He loss near the fault plane as evidence of recent focused fluid flow within the fault core at temperatures below 94 °C, possibly within the past ~45,000 years. Our data suggest that crustal noble gases can be used to evaluate the timing of crustal isolation and/or hydraulic communication in fault zones locally in the Marcellus Shale and potentially in other geological settings. Future work can further develop this approach to examine the long-term suitability of geological formations for permanent subsurface storage of CO2, other gases (e.g., H2), or nuclear waste, as well as to determine if various subsurface intervals represent zones of hydrocarbon accumulation and/or loss over geological time.

40Ar/39Ar ages of Northwest Africa 7034 and Northwest Africa 7533

AbstractThe Martian breccias NWA 7034, NWA 7533, and paired meteorites record events ranging in age from 4.47 Ga to <200 Ma. Published ages indicate a period of major disturbance at ~1.4 Ga, examined in detail here through 40Ar/39Ar dating of handpicked grains and two small chips. Argon diffusion parameters were obtained for six samples. Also presented are He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe contents of two small (<100 µg), handpicked mineral separates, a felsic “Light” sample and a mafic/pyroxene‐rich “Dark” sample. The 40Ar/39Ar ages of five samples, four containing >1 wt% K and thought to be rich in feldspar and one containing <~1 wt% K, cluster near 1.4 Ga. The 40Ar/39Ar ages of nine grains with low K contents have a wide range of apparent ages from 0.3 ± 0.1 Ga to 2.9 ± 0.1 Ga for individual temperature steps, and from 0.74 ± 0.06 Ga to ~2.1 Ga for plateau ages. Isochron ages are less precise, but generally agree with plateau ages. Only two isochrons have the significantly positive intercepts expected in the presence of terrestrial or Martian atmospheric argon. At higher release temperatures, activation energies for diffusion obtained from 39Ar data for six samples are generally 160–200 kJ mol−1, consistent with published values for feldspathic minerals. For three of these samples, lower temperature data on Arrhenius plots are best fit with a much lower activation energy of <100 kJ mol−1. We attribute the low values to the effects of varying degrees of shock on feldspathic minerals and/or the presence of phases in vitrophyric spherules produced by hydrothermal alteration. The low activation energies place an upper limit of ~14 ka on the terrestrial age of NWA 7034. Much lower concentrations of cosmogenic (c) 3He and 21Ne in the Light than in the Dark separate indicate substantial losses concurrent with or postdating cosmic ray irradiation. A one‐stage, cosmic ray exposure (CRE) age for the Dark separate from NWA 7034 is estimated to be between 7 and 10 Ma from the concentrations of 3Hec and 38Arc, and of close to 15 Ma from the concentration of 21Nec. Most of the 40Ar/39Ar and noble gas data are compatible with (1) a heating and alteration event ~1.40 Ga caused by contact metamorphism, an impact, and/or the infiltration of hydrothermal fluids; and (2) at least one later event at lower temperatures that led to either loss of He and Ar from phases with low activation energies, or to gain of K. Most of the 40Ar/39Ar ages are consistent with the assembly of NWA 7034 1.4 Ga ago or perhaps earlier followed more recently by selective alteration. A more recent time of assembly is also consistent with these ages provided that the temperature stayed low. The five most precise 40Ar/39Ar ages of the samples analyzed are all ~1.4 Ga, a value seen frequently in other NWA 7034 chronometers and very similar to crystallization ages of nakhlites and chassignites (NC). Some CRE ages based on noble gases in NWA 7034 agree within their considerable uncertainties with those of NC. These two chronometric coincidences suggest that the NWA 7034 clan and the NC share a launch date on Mars. We propose that K‐rich fluids derived from the nakhlite source area interacted with proto‐NWA 7034 and modified the K/Ar ratios and ages of previously shocked feldspar grains, with the degree of modification depending on the degree of shock. The NWA 7034 clan may therefore be considered components from a metamorphic aureole around a nakhlite massif.

Zircon 4He/3He fractional loss step-heating and characterization of parent nuclide distribution

The radiogenic ingrowth and diffusive loss of 4He in accessory minerals is used to determine the timing of low-temperature thermal processes such as shallow tectonic, magmatic, hydrothermal, and geomorphic events. While the thermal history experienced by a sample cannot be directly constrained by a single (UTh)/He total gas age, 4He concentration profiles, normalized against irradiation-induced spallogenic 3He, have been shown to reliably recover continuous thermal history constraints if the parent nuclide distribution is either spatially uniform or can be determined. As such, 4He/3He thermochronometry has been successfully applied to apatite. However, individual zircon grains can contain complex parent nuclide zonation. Using moderately zoned, euhedral zircon grains from the rapidly cooled, distal Fish Canyon Tuff, we investigated the potential of the zircon 4He/3He thermochronometer through combining 4He/3He diode laser fractional loss step-heating with detailed analysis of parent element zonation. We present a routine method for the quantitative characterization of parent nuclide zonation by LA-ICP-MS depth-profiling. This study also demonstrates the importance of thermal control and avoidance of intra-sample thermal gradients during laser step-heating fractional loss experiments. Accurate and stable thermal control was achieved with an optimized sample-holder design, laser defocusing, and PID control loops to minimize temperature overshoot, failure to reach set-point, and temperature drop-offs. These analytical developments illustrate both the pitfalls and promise of zircon 4He/3He thermochronometry and create a reproducible methodology for 4He/3He thermochronometric applications to zoned and slowly cooled zircon.

Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometric constraints on the mineralization of the giant Xikuangshan Sb deposit in central Hunan, South China

The Xikuangshan Sb deposit in central Hunan, South China is the largest Sb deposit in the world, which has supplied more than 50% of the world’s Sb and with total Sb metal reserves of about 2.5 Mt. However, the age of this deposit is still not well constrained due to a lack of suitable minerals for reliable radiometric dating, which hampered the generation of a generally accepted genetic model of mineralization. Since the fluid-inclusion data suggest that the temperature of ore-forming fluids in the Xikuangshan deposit is up to 360 °C, zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry with the closure temperature of 160–200 °C was chosen here to elucidate the age of Sb mineralization. Detrital zircons in the altered host rocks from the Xikuangshan deposit yielded two (U-Th)/He age populations of 156–117 and 97–86 Ma. The older age population (156–117 Ma), which is well in accordance with previous Sm-Nd dating on hydrothermal calcite (156–124 Ma), probably represents the timing of main-stage Sb mineralization in the Xikuangshan Sb deposit, while the younger zircon (U-Th)/He ages may result from partial loss of He in zircon caused by the distal effect of deep-seated intrusions beneath the deposit. This study demonstrates that the (U-Th)/He dating of zircon in altered host rocks can be viable for constraining the timing of low-temperature mineralization.

Increasing the accuracy of (U-Th(-Sm))/He dating with 3D grain modelling

Conventional (U-Th(-Sm))/He thermochronology requires accurate determination of the grain shape and dimension for calculation of 4He loss by alpha particle ejection and diffusion. In routine practice, calculations of 4He loss and diffusion are calculated assuming that measured grains approximate symmetric grain shapes with perfectly smooth crystal surfaces. This may introduce uncertainties that are virtually impossible to quantify if grains that do not pass the latter criteria are used. Alternatively, this leads to a selection bias for the analyses of detrital minerals if only grains with perfect crystal surfaces are measured. To address this limitation, we introduce a flexible, open-source numerical approach in Matlab™ to accurately determine the three-dimensional grain shape and numerically model He loss by alpha ejection and diffusion on individual grains. The three-dimensional surface of a mineral grain is interpolated from photomicrographs taken orthogonal to the principal grain axes. He ejection and diffusion is simulated using a coupled Monte Carlo and Brownian motion algorithm. Comparing our approach to high-resolution X-ray microtomography, we demonstrate that our “3D-He” approach improves the accuracy of He loss corrections when mineral grains do not approximate perfect crystal shapes by avoiding constraints inherent to standard manual-analytical approaches. Importantly, this method mitigates any bias introduced by user-dependent grain selection, measurements and assigning grains to a mineral shape for which analytical solutions of He production have been derived. In routine practice, we find that our 3D-He approach improves the accuracy of geometric measures (volume and surface area) and associated sphere-equivalent radii (SER) significantly, reducing the average deviation from true values from ~7–8% (manual-analytical approach) to ~2.5% (3D-He approach). The difference in SER significantly impacts the resulting apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He ages, which may deviate up to 40% when long held at temperatures where He production roughly matches diffusive loss of He. Using the 3D-He approach, the average deviation and overall spread of He loss corrections due to alpha ejection (FT factors) could be reduced from 1.6 ± 4.6% to 0.6 ± 0.8%. In summary, our 3D-He approach is a significant refinement to (U-Th(-Sm))/He age calculation considering relatively low analytical uncertainty in U, Th, Sm and He measurement (~2%). Importantly, our 3D-He approach should mitigate the selection bias introduced through manual grain selection. Toward this end, we discuss additional advantages of our numerical approach to handling broken grains or grains with known parent isotope zonation.

Petrography, classification, oxygen isotopes, noble gases, and cosmogenic records of Kamargaon (L6) meteorite: The latest fall in India

AbstractA single piece of meteorite fell on Kamargaon village in the state of Assam in India on November 13, 2015. Based on mineralogical, chemical, and oxygen isotope data, Kamargaon is classified as an L‐chondrite. Homogeneous olivine (Fa: 25 ± 0.7) and low‐Ca pyroxene (Fs: 21 ± 0.4) compositions with percent mean deviation of <2, further suggest that Kamargaon is a coarsely equilibrated, petrologic type 6 chondrite. Kamargaon is thermally metamorphosed with an estimated peak metamorphic temperature of ~800 °C as determined by two‐pyroxene thermometry. Shock metamorphism studies suggest that this meteorite include portions of different shock stages, e.g., S3 and S4 (Stöffler et al. ); however, local presence of quenched metal‐sulfide melt within shock veins/pockets suggest disequilibrium melting and relatively higher shock stage of up to S5 (Bennett and McSween ). Based on noble gas isotopes, the cosmic‐ray exposure age is estimated as 7.03 ± 1.60 Ma and nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N = 18‰) also correspond well with the L‐chondrite group. The He‐U, Th, and K‐Ar yield younger ages (170 ± 25 Ma 684 ± 93, respectively) and are discordant. A loss of He during the resetting event is implied by the lower He‐U and Th age. Elemental ratios of trapped Ar, Kr, and Xe can be explained through the presence of a normal Q noble gas component. Relatively low activity of 26Al (39 dpm/kg) and the absence of 60Co activity suggest a likely low shielding depth and envisage a small preatmospheric size of the meteoroid (<10 cm in radius). The Kr isotopic ratios (82Kr/84Kr) further argue that the meteorite was derived from a shallow depth.

Diffusion of helium in SiC and implications for retention of cosmogenic He

Diffusion of helium has been characterized in silicon carbide of cubic and hexagonal (4H and 6H) forms. Polished sections of SiC were implanted with 3He at 100keV at a dose of 1×1015/cm2. The implanted SiC samples were sealed under vacuum in silica glass ampoules, and annealed in 1-atm furnaces. 3He distributions following all experiments were measured with Nuclear Reaction Analysis using the reaction 3He(d,p)4He. For He diffusion in cubic SiC and 4H hexagonal SiC we obtain the following Arrhenius relations:Dcubic=1.83×10-6exp(-254±10kJmol-1/RT)m2s-1.D4H=4.78×10-7exp(-255±29kJmol-1/RT)m2s-1.While He diffusion is considerably slower in SiC than in many silicate phases, He retentivity may be limited under some conditions. For example, helium will be lost from SiC grains over much shorter timescales than potential survival times of SiC presolar grains in the solar nebula. When exposed to impact heating followed by slow cooling, nearly complete loss of He from SiC grains near the site of impact will occur within several hours to a few days. For SiC grains at greater distance from impact sites, He would be better retained, depending on the rapidity of cooling. At tens of km away from a large impactor, where peak T would be ∼800K, SiC grains would lose about 50% of their He if the grains cooled within a few thousand years, and 5% if they cooled within a few tens of years. At greater distances where heating is more modest (500K and lower), SiC grains would be quite retentive of He even for cases of very slow cooling. Helium would also be retained in cases of impact heating followed by very rapid cooling. For these short heating pulses, 10μm diameter SiC grains would retain more than 50% of their He for peak heating temperatures of 2173, 1973 and 1773K for durations of 3, 10 and 60s, respectively.

Noble gases, nitrogen and cosmic ray exposure age of the Sulagiri chondrite

The Sulagiri meteorite fell in India on 12 September 2008, LL6 chondrite class is the largest among all the Indian meteorites. Isotopic compositions of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) and nitrogen in the Sulagiri meteorite and cosmic ray exposure history are discussed. Low cosmogenic (22Ne/21Ne)c ratio is consistent with irradiation in a large body. Cosmogenic noble gases indicate that Sulagiri has a 4π cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age of 27.9 ± 3.4 Ma and is a member of the peak of CRE age distribution of LL chondrites. Radiogenic 4He and 40Ar concentrations in Sulagiri yields the radiogenic ages as 2.29 and 4.56 Ga, indicating the loss of He from the meteorite. Xenon and krypton are mixture of Q and spallogenic components.

Similarities and differences between the solar wind light noble gas compositions determined on Apollo 15 SWC foils and on NASA Genesis targets

AbstractWe compare the solar wind (SW) He, Ne, and Ar compositions collected during the Apollo Solar Wind Composition (SWC) experiments (1969–1972; Al‐ & Pt‐foils) and the Genesis mission (2002–2004; so‐called DOS targets considered here). While published SW 20Ne/22Ne and 36Ar/38Ar ratios of both data sets agree, differences exist in the 4He/3He, 4He/20Ne, and 20Ne/36Ar ratios. However, 20Ne/36Ar ratios from Apollo‐16 Pt‐foils, exclusively adopted as SW values by the SWC team, are consistent with the Genesis results. We investigate if the differences indicate a variability of the SW over the course of about 30 yr, or systematic biases of the two data sets, which were collected in different environments and measured several decades apart in different laboratories (University of Bern; ETH Zurich). New measurements of Apollo‐15 SWC aluminum foils in Zurich generally agree with the original measurements performed in Bern. Zurich samples show slightly lower 4He concentrations suggesting a few percent of diffusive loss of 4He during storage of the foils. A 3% difference between the He isotopic ratios measured in Bern and in Zurich possibly represents an analytical bias between the laboratories. The low SW 4He/20Ne and 20Ne/36Ar ratios in Apollo‐15 Al‐foils compared to Genesis data are consistent with a mixture of Genesis‐like SW and noble gases from small amounts of lunar dust. Our data suggest that the mean SW He, Ne, and Ar isotopic and elemental compositions have not significantly changed between the overall Apollo and Genesis mission collection periods.

Effect of Alginate Lyase on Biofilm-GrownHelicobacter pyloriProbed by Atomic Force Microscopy

Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is a microorganism with a pronounced capability of adaptation under environmental stress solicitations. Its persistence and antimicrobial resistance to the drugs commonly used in the anti-H. pyloritherapy are associated with the development of a biofilm mainly composed of DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. A fundamental step to increase the success of clinical treatments is the development of new strategies and molecules able to interfere with the biofilm architecture and thus able to enhance the effects of antibiotics. By using Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy we analyzed the effects of the alginate lyase (AlgL), an enzyme able to degrade a wide class of polysaccharides, on theH. pylorishape, surface morphology, and biofilm adhesion properties. We demonstrated that AlgL generates a noticeable loss ofH. pyloricoccoid form in favor of the bacillary form and reduces theH. pyloriextracellular polymeric substances (EPS).

東日本大震災の被災地宮城県におけるMR装置被害の実態調査報告

A questionnaire comprising 14 items, inquiring about the state of damage, whether safety could be ensured, and progress of repair and restoration was distributed to 984 facilities in seven prefectures on the Pacific coast as part of a fact-finding survey of damage caused to magnetic resonance (MR) devices by the Great East Japan Earthquake. In all, 458 responses (46.6%) were collected. In Miyagi Prefecture alone, 65 responses from 105 questionnaires were collected (response rate: 61.9%). The overall incidence of damage was 19.2%, with 57 facilities (12.4%) reporting that displacement of the magnets was the most common problem. The damage event rate in Miyagi Prefecture was 51.3%, with displacement of the magnet being highest at 17 cases (26.2%). There was a high rate of 13 cases (26.5%) of chiller and air conditioning failures and a rapid loss of He in ten MR scanners (20.4%). Notably, 87.8% of facilities in Miyagi Prefecture (24.5% of the total) were affected by earthquakes exceeding 6 on the Japanese Seismic Intensity Scale. Flood damage caused by the tsunami was also seen along the Sanriku coast to Sendai City (six MR scanners, 50% of the total), and was typical of the damage seen in Miyagi Prefecture.

Natural age dispersion arising from the analysis of broken crystals. Part I: Theoretical basis and implications for the apatite (U–Th)/He thermochronometer

Over the last decade major progress has been made in developing both the theoretical and practical aspects of apatite (U–Th)/He thermochronometry and it is now standard practice, and generally seen as best practice, to analyse single grain aliquots. These individual prismatic crystals are often broken and are fragments of larger crystals that have broken during mineral separation along the weak basal cleavage in apatite. This is clearly indicated by the common occurrence of only 1 or no clear crystal terminations present on separated apatite grains, and evidence of freshly broken ends when grains are viewed using a scanning electron microscope. This matters because if the 4He distribution within the whole grain is not homogeneous, because of partial loss due to thermal diffusion for example, then the fragments will all yield ages different from each other and from the whole grain age. Here we use a numerical model with a finite cylinder geometry to approximate 4He ingrowth and thermal diffusion within hexagonal prismatic apatite crystals. This is used to quantify the amount and patterns of inherent, natural age dispersion that arises from analysing broken crystals. A series of systematic numerical experiments were conducted to explore and quantify the pattern and behaviour of this source of dispersion using a set of 5 simple thermal histories that represent a range of plausible geological scenarios. In addition some more complex numerical experiments were run to investigate the pattern and behaviour of grain dispersion seen in several real data sets. The results indicate that natural dispersion of a set of single fragment ages (defined as the range divided by the mean) arising from fragmentation alone varies from c. 7% even for rapid (c. 10°C/Ma), monotonic cooling to over 50% for protracted, complex histories that cause significant diffusional loss of 4He. The magnitude of dispersion arising from fragmentation scales with the grain cylindrical radius, and is of a similar magnitude to dispersion expected from differences in absolute grain size alone (spherical equivalent radii of 40–150μm). This source of dispersion is significant compared with typical analytical uncertainties on individual grain analyses (c. 6%) and standard deviations on multiple grain analyses from a single sample (c. 10–20%). Where there is a significant difference in the U and Th concentration of individual grains (eU), the effect of radiation damage accumulation on 4He diffusivity (assessed using the RDAAM model of Flowers et al. (2009)) is the primary cause of dispersion for samples that have experienced a protracted thermal history, and can cause dispersion in excess of 100% for realistic ranges of eU concentration (i.e. 5–100ppm). Expected natural dispersion arising from the combined effects of reasonable variations in grain size (radii 40–125μm), eU concentration (5–150ppm) and fragmentation would typically exceed 100% for complex thermal histories. In addition to adding a significant component of natural dispersion to analyses, the effect of fragmentation also acts to decouple and corrupt expected correlations between grain ages and absolute grain size and to a lesser extent between grain age and effective uranium concentration (eU). Considering fragmentation explicitly as a source of dispersion and analysing how the different sources of natural dispersion all interact with each other provides a quantitative framework for understanding patterns of dispersion that otherwise appear chaotic. An important outcome of these numerical experiments is that they demonstrate that the pattern of age dispersion arising from fragmentation mimics the pattern of 4He distribution within the whole grains, thus providing an important source of information about the thermal history of the sample. We suggest that if the primary focus of a study is to extract the thermal history information from (U–Th)/He analyses then sampling and analytical strategies should aim to maximise the natural dispersion of grain ages, not minimise it, and should aim to analyse circa 20–30 grains from each sample. The key observations and conclusions drawn here are directly applicable to other thermochronometers, such as the apatite, rutile and titanite U–Pb systems, where the diffusion domain is approximated by the physical grain size.

Thermal effects of scanning electron microscopy on He diffusion in apatite: Implications for (U[sbnd]Th)/He dating

In order to investigate potential diffusive loss of He from apatites during SEM analysis, we performed (1) single-grain (UTh)/He dating for 47 Durango apatite fragments (from <90μm to 150–250μm) which were previously examined using SEM under different analytical conditions, and (2) electron–matter interaction simulation combined with diffusion modeling. The determined (UTh)/He ages are internally consistent within their errors, and indistinguishable from the reported 40Ar/39Ar ages of 31.44±0.18 (2σ) Ma and the apatite (UTh)/He ages of 31.02±1.01Ma (Standard Deviation; McDowell et al., 2005). The results from the electron–matter interaction simulation suggest that “temperature rise” (ΔT=temperature increase during electron bombardment) peaks within a very thin layer at the outermost of the hypothetical apatite grain, and falls below ~50K within a depth of 0.3μm from the surface. Based on the simulated ΔT profile combined with available He diffusion parameters, the fractional loss of He (fHe) was calculated for different apatite grain dimensions. The numerical simulation supports that the He loss from apatite grains of typical physical dimensions is negligible (<1%) under regular SEM operating conditions. The direct measurements of (UTh)/He ages for SEM-treated apatites, as well as diffusion simulation using the electron–matter interaction model, indicate that SEM spot analysis or extensive chemical mapping prior to apatite (UTh)/He dating does not cause any meaningful diffusive He loss for most of the apatite samples.

Helium diffusion in rutile and titanite, and consideration of the origin and implications of diffusional anisotropy

Diffusion of helium has been characterized in natural sphene (titanite) and synthetic rutile. Polished slabs of sphene and rutile were implanted with 100 keV 3He at a dose of 5 × 10 15 3He/cm 2 and annealed in 1-atm furnaces. 3He distributions following experiments were measured with nuclear reaction analysis using the reaction 3He(d,p) 4He. For diffusion in rutile we obtain the following Arrhenius relations: D ‖ a = 2 . 26 × 1 0 − 1 0 exp ( − 126 ± 11 kJ mol − 1 / RT ) m 2 sec − 1 . D ‖ c = 1 . 75 × 1 0 − 8 exp ( − 12 0 ± 7 kJ mol − 1 / RT ) m 2 sec − 1 . Although activation energies for diffusion parallel to the c- and a-axes are comparable, there is marked diffusional anisotropy, with diffusion parallel to the c-axis about 2 orders of magnitude faster than transport parallel to the a-axis. These diffusivities bracket the values determined for He diffusion in rutile in bulk release experiments ( Stockli et al., 2005, 2007; Wolfe, 2009), although the role of anisotropy could not be directly evaluated in those measurements. In titanite, the following Arrhenius relation was obtained over the temperature range 252–550 °C for diffusion parallel to the a-axis: D = 2 . 14 × 1 0 − 6 exp ( − 148 ± 8 kJ mol − 1 / RT ) m 2 sec − 1 . In contrast to rutile and zircon ( Cherniak et al., 2009), titanite shows little evidence of anisotropy, as diffusivities parallel to the a- and c-axes are similar, and diffusivities for titanites from two different localities are similar. He diffusion coefficients obtained in this study are similar to those measured through bulk release of He by step heating ( Shuster et al., 2003). Over the investigated temperature range, diffusion of He in titanite is similar to that of He diffusion in rutile parallel to the c-axis, but much faster than diffusion parallel to the a-axis. Since the diffusion of He in rutile exhibits such pronounced anisotropy, we model diffusional loss of He with a recently developed finite-element code ( Watson et al., 2010) created to simulate diffusion in cylindrical geometry with differing radial and axial diffusion coefficients. We present example applications to evaluate helium losses from rutile grains as a function of grain size and length to diameter ratios. In efforts to better understand the occurrence of pronounced anisotropy for He diffusion in some crystals (e.g., rutile, zircon) but not in others (e.g., apatite, titanite), we consider the density and distribution of interstitial apertures in the crystal structure that might permit He migration. These determinations, an extension of the concept of ionic porosity, are consistent with observations of relative diffusivities and the existence or absence of significant anisotropy for the minerals rutile, zircon, apatite and titanite.

Mass scaling laws due to isotopic effects in the energy loss of He2+colliding with H, D, and T

Total, electronic, and nuclear energy loss as well as stopping cross sections are calculated for He${}^{2+}$ ions incident on atomic hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium at low to intermediate energies by means of an ab initio, nonadiabatic approach for solving the Schr\odinger equation incorporating coupled electron and nuclear dynamics. Comparison of this ab initio treatment with classical nuclear stopping cross-section formulations obtained from Coulomb and screened potential models, and an ab initio theory, allows us to deduce scaling laws that incorporate the different target masses (target isotopic effect). We provide a discussion on the range of validity of the use of classical trajectories. We verify that the nuclear energy loss is a universal function of the center-of-mass (c.m.) scattering angle. The scattering angle in the c.m. system shows a dependence on the projectile charge due to a strong isotopic effect on the charge-transfer cross section. In the case of a Coulombic interaction, that dependence disappears, and leads to a formulation based only on the c.m. collision energy for the nuclear stopping cross section. Due to the small electron capture cross section for He${}^{2+}$ on H, D, and T in the low-energy region, it is shown that the effective charge model that assumes neutralization of the projectile does not apply to the energy loss of He${}^{2+}$ ions in the calculation of stopping cross sections. Thus, for this system, there is no influence of the charge exchange isotope effect of the target in the nuclear stopping cross section of the projectile. In the electronic energy loss, such an isotopic effect is present through Stueckelberg oscillations, but its contribution is small. Furthermore, the electronic stopping cross section shows a threshold effect that results from the minimum momentum transfer necessary to produce an electronic excitation in the target. Finally, the nuclear stopping cross section has a universal behavior as a function of the c.m. collision energy, and care must be taken when comparing ionic systems stopping cross-section results to those of neutral systems as obtained by effective charge models.

Electrodynamic Disaggregation: Does it Affect Apatite Fission‐Track and (U‐Th)/He Analyses?

Apatite fission‐track and (U‐Th)/He analyses require the liberation of intact idiomorphic apatite grains from rock samples. While routinely being carried out by mechanical methods, electrodynamic disaggregation (ED) offers an alternative approach. The high‐voltage discharges produced during the ED process create localised temperature peaks (10000 K) along a narrow plasma channel. In apatite, such high temperatures could potentially reduce the length of fission tracks, which start to anneal at temperatures &gt; 60 °C, and could also enhance He diffusion, which becomes significant at 30–40 °C over geological time scales. A comparison of fission‐track analyses and (U‐Th)/He ages of apatites prepared both by mechanical (jaw crusher, disk mill) and ED processing provides a way of determining whether heating during the latter method has any significant effect. Apatites from three samples of different geological settings (an orthogneiss from Madagascar, the Fish Canyon Tuff, and a muscovite‐gneiss from Greece) yielded statistically identical track length distributions compared to samples prepared mechanically. Additionally, (U‐Th)/He ages of apatites from a leucogranite from Morocco prepared by both methods were indistinguishable. These first results indicated that during electrodynamic disaggregation apatite crystals were not heated enough to partially anneal the fission tracks or induce significant diffusive loss of He.

A high-current light-ion injector for tandem accelerators

A dual-source injector for tandem accelerators to produce negative ion currents of H, D, and He has been developed and built. The system consists of a central vacuum enclosure that accommodates two multicusp ion sources. Beam currents of several mA of H(-) and D(-) have been obtained by direct negative extraction of one of the multicusp ion sources. The yield for He(-) was optimized applying differentially pumped vacuum sections that support space compensation in the He(+) transport section a well as low neutralization loss of He(-) after charge exchange. In addition, an optimized extraction geometry and beam transport system enabled in excess of 10 mA He(+) within the low acceptance of the charge exchange canal. Early measurements yielded approximately 50 microA for He(-) using Li as a charge exchange medium, but currents over 100 microA are anticipated if Na would be used.

Neon and helium isotopes as tracers of mantle reservoirs and mantle dynamics

He isotopes are usually used as tracers for the identification of mantle reservoirs and mantle dynamics. High 3He/ 4He ratios are thought to represent deep mantle material, whereas ratios around 8 R A (R A stands for the atmospheric 3He/ 4He ratio of 1.39 × 10 − 6 ) are thought to be representative of the upper mantle. Based on He, Ne and Ar fusion data from fresh, submarine volcanic glasses of several Mid-Atlantic Ridge off-axis seamounts we show that He isotopes can be susceptible to interferences during melt formation and evolution resulting in the decoupling of He from other elements, such as e.g. Ne or Pb. All obtained He data are indistinguishable from that of the MORB range. In contrast, Ne isotopic compositions are much more primitive than MORB. Combined He, Ne and Ar systematics show that the source region of these seamounts has experienced a preferential loss of He compared to Ne and Ar. This He loss, combined with subsequent 4He production, resulted in the decoupling of the He isotope systematics from Ne and Pb. Thus, when considering He and Ne, only Ne has preserved the evidence that a primitive mantle component contributed to the formation of the investigated seamounts. As these seamounts are not fed from a mantle plume being derived from the deep mantle, the primitive Ne component resides within the upper mantle, implying that primitive noble gases are not necessarily indicative of deep mantle material.

Projectile electron loss in nitrogen

The projectile electron loss channel plays an important role in modeling several processes connected to the penetration of swift ions in gases, such as radiation damage, energy loss, upper atmosphere studies, storage lifetimes of low-charge state heavy ions, etc. In this paper we have used recent measurements of projectile electron loss of He+ ions in N2 together with previous data for higher charged ions in order to shed light on the role played by the projectile electron loss in the heating and ionization of Titan's atmosphere.