Beryllium-10 contents of shergottites,nakhlites, and Chassigny

Accelerator mass spectrometry gives the following ¹⁰Be contents (dpm/kg) for the SNC meteorites: Shergotty, 13.0 ± 1.5 and 17.3 ± 2.7; Zagami, 18.6 ± 2.5 and 20.0 ± 3.2; ALHA 77005, 15 ± 3; EETA 79001A, 7.8 ± 1.1 and 6.3 ± 0.5; EETA 79001B, 8.5 ± 1.1; Nakhla, 19.7 ± 3.3; Lafayette, 18.1 ± 2.5; Governador Valadares, 25.6 ± 3.6; Chassigny, 20.5 ± 3.1. The ¹⁰Be contents of the NC meteorites indicate that significant accumulation of cosmogenic nuclides occurred in decimeter rather than planetary-size bodies. The agreement of the ³He, ²¹Ne, and ¹⁰Be exposure ages of the shergottites also supports small-body irradiation. A long terrestrial age for EETA 79001 appears unlikely.     

Chronology and petrogenesis of young achondrites,Shergotty, Zagami,and ALHA77005: late magmatism on a geologically active planet

A study was undertaken to determine the chronology, petrogenesis and relationships among the shergottites, Shergotty and Zagami and the unique achondrite ALHA77005. These meteorites are the product of a variety of complex processes.Petrogenesis: Chondrite-normalized abundance patterns of Shergotty and Zagami are very similar and show pronounced depletions of both the light REE (La-Nd) and heavy REE (Dy-Lu) relative to Sm-Gd. These characteristic depletions are even more pronounced for ALHA77005. The light REE depletion is qualitatively consistent with the presence of cumulus pyroxene and/or olivine in these meteorites, but trace element models show that the parental magmas of all three meteorites were probably also light REE depleted. Both trace element model calculations and combined Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic systematics show that the meteorites could not have been co-magmatic nor can ALHA77005 be representative of the source material of the shergottites. Light REE depletion of the parental magmas also implies light REE depletion of the source material. The Sm-Nd systematics of the shergottites require a time-averaged sub-chondritic (light REE enriched) Sm-Nd ratio since 4.6 AE ago. The Sm-Nd systematics of ALHA77005 permit a time-averaged super-chondritic (light REE depleted) Sm/Nd ratio if its crystallization age is less than T_ICE = 0.72 AE.Chronology. Rb-Sr internal isochrons for all three meteorites and a Sm-Nd internal isochron for Zagami are concordant at ~ 180 Myr. ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar plateau ages of Shergotty and Zagami maskelynite are ~250–260 Myr. These ages apparently reflect resetting of these isotopic systems by shock metamorphism which converted the feldspar to maskelynite. The concordance of these ages suggests a single shock event during which the meteorites were in close physical proximity. The time of this event is most precisely given by the Rb-Sr age of 180 ± 4 Myr for Zagami.The crystallization ages of the meteorites were not precisely determined. Extreme upper limits are determined by Sm-Nd model ages relative to an eucrite initial ${}^{143}\text{Nd}{}^{144}\text{Nd = 0.505835}$ at 4.6 AE ago. These model ages for Shergotty, Zagami and ALHA77005 are 3600, 3500 and 2850 Myr, respectively. The Sm-Nd whole rock age of 1340 ± 60 Myr for the three meteorites gives the crystallization age if the Sm/Nd ratios of the precursor materials were always the same. We consider this 1340 Myr age as a “best estimate” upper limit. “Best estimate” lower limits for Shergotty and Zagami are taken from the average ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar ages of 1200 and 900 Myr of pyroxene separates. The average ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar age of a whole rock sample of ALHA77005 was 1600 Myr and can be partitioned between a low temperature (feldspar) phase and a high temperature (olivine + pyroxene + inclusions) “phase”. The average apparent ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar age of the low temperature phase is ~1050 Myr, which is chosen as the “best estimate” lower limit to the age. The crystallization ages of Shergotty, Zagami and ALHA77005 probably lie within the ranges of 1200–1300, 900–1300 and 1000–1300 Myr, respectively. The Rb-Sr whole rock age of 4400 ± 400 Myr and single-stage BABI model ages of ~4800–5100 Myr are interpreted as reflecting differentiation of the parent body at ~4600 Myr ago.The complex geochemical and isotopic evolution recorded by these meteorites suggests a geologically active parent body capable of sustaining melting at two or more epochs in its history.     

The Shergotty Consortium and SNC meteorites: An overview

The Shergotty meteorite has a multi-phase (magmatic and shock) history. While the Shergotty picture is complex, consortium studies have advanced our knowledge and understanding of Shergotty and shergottites, nakhlites and Chassigny (SNC) meteorites. Martian origin for the SNC meteorites is strongly favored by several workers from the evidence of trapped noble gases and nitrogen compositions in glasses (lithology C) of the EETA 79001 meteorite, which compare well with the Martian atmosphere analysis made by the Viking Spacecraft. The parent body is about 2 to 4 times richer in volatiles (Cl, Br, Na, K, Rb, Zn, F, Pb, etc.) than the Earth. Consortium studies on Shergotty show very low thermoluminescence, no deformation of tracks, cosmic ray exposure age of about 2.5 million years (m.y.), a pre-atmospheric size of about 12 cm radius, and apparently one shock event at 30 GPa pressure that converted plagioclase to maskelynite. The crystallization age of Shergotty by the Sm-Nd method is 360 ± 16 m.y. The Rb-Sr age for Shergotty is reported as 166 m.y. and the Pb-U age as about 200 m.y. Interpretations of age-dating and exposure scenarios are controversial and may require further studies.At least two scenarios for the ejection of SNC meteorites are possible: 1) ejection as a large body (>6 m size) by a single impact on Mars and then multiple breakup in the asteroidal belt at about 11 m.y. for Chassigny and nakhlites, at 2.5 m.y. for Shergotty, Zagami and ALHA 77005, and at 0.6 m.y. for EETA 79001; and 2) ejection of small objects (<0.5 m size) by multiple impacts on the Martian terrain at 11, 2.5 and 0.6 m.y. with no breakup in space.     

The sources of water in Martian meteorites: clues from hydrogen isotopes

H isotope measurements of carbonate, phosphate, feldspathic and mafic glasses, and post-stishovite silica phase in the shergottites Zagami, Shergotty, SaU 005, DaG 476, ALHA 77005 and EETA 79001, as well as in Chassigny and ALH 84001, show that all these phases contain deuterium-enriched water of extraterrestrial origin. The minerals and glasses analyzed may contain an initial primary hydrogen component, but their isotopic composition was modified to varying degrees by three different processes: interaction with a fractionated exchangeable water reservoir on Mars, hydrogen devolatilization by impact melting, and terrestrial contamination. Positive correlations between δD and water abundance in feldspathic glass and post-stishovite silica in Zagami, Shergotty, and SaU 005 is indicative of mixing of a high δD component (3000-4000‰) and a less abundant, low δD component (∼0‰). The high δD component is primarily derived from the Martian exchangable reservoir, but may also have been influenced by isotopic fractionation associated with shock-induced hydrogen loss. The low δD component is either a terrestrial contaminant or a primary “magmatic” component. The negative correlation between δD and water abundances in mafic and feldspathic glasses in ALH 84001, ALHA 77005, and EETA 79001 is consistent with the addition of a low δD terrestrial contaminant to a less abundant high-deuterium Martian component. The low δD of magmatic glass in melt inclusions suggests that the δD of Martian parent magma was low and that the initial H isotope signature of Mars may be similar to that of Earth.     

Isotopic anomalies of noble gases in meteorites and their origins—III. LL-chondrites

Nine LL-chondrites were studied by a selective etching technique, to characterize the noblegas components in three mineral fractions: HF-HCl-solubles (silicates, metal, troilite, etc.; comprising ～ 99% of the meteorite), chromite and carbon (～ 0.3–0.7%) and Q (a poorly characterized mineral defined by its solubility in HNO₃, comprising ～ 0.05% of the meteorite but containing most of the Ar, Kr, Xe and a neon component of ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}\text{= 10.9 ± 0.8}$). The ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio in Q falls wi petrologic type and rising ³⁶Ar content, as expected for condensation from a cooling solar nebula, but contrary to the trend expected for metamorphic losses. Chondrites of different petrologic types therefore cannot all be derived from the same volatile-rich ancestor, but must have formed over a range of temperatures, with correspondingly different intrinsic volatile contents.The CCFXe (carbonaceous chondrite fission) component varies systematically with petrologic type. The most primitive LL3s (Krymka, Bishunpur, Chainpur) contain substantial amounts of CCFXe in chromite-carbon, enriched relative to primordial Xe as shown by high ${}^{136}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{Xe}$ (0.359–0.459, vs 0.310 for primordial Xe). These are accompanied by He and by Ne with ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}\text{≈ 8.0}$ and by variable amounts of a xenon component enriched in the light isotopes. The chromite in these meteorites is compositionally peculiar, containing substantial amounts of Fe(III). These meteorites, as well as Parnallee (LL3) and Hamlet (LL4) also contain CCFXe in phase Q, heavily diluted by primordial $\text{Xe}\text{(}{}^{136}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{Xe}\text{= 0.317–0.329)}$. On the other hand, LL5s and 6s (Olivenza, St. Séverin, Manbhoom and Dhurmsala) contain no CCFXe in either mineral. This deficiency must be intrinsic rather than caused by metamorphic loss, because Q in these meteorites still contains substantial amounts of primordial Ne.If CCFXe comes from a supernova, then its distribution in LL-chondrites requires three presolar carrier minerals of the right solubility properties, containing three different xenon components in certain combinations. These minerals must be appropriately distributed over the petrologic types, together with locally produced Q containing primordial gases, and they must be isotopically normal, in contrast to the gases they contain. On the other hand, if CCFXe comes from fission of a volatile superheavy element, then its decrease from LL3 to LL6 can be attributed to progressively less complete condensation from the solar nebula. Ad hoc assumptions must of the host phase Q, its association with ferrichromite and the origin of the associated xenon component enriched in the light isotopes.Soluble minerals in LL3s and LL4s contain a previously unobserved, solar xenon component, which, however, is not derived from the solar wind. Three types of ‘primordial’ xenon thus occur side-by-side in different minerals of the same meteorite: strongly fractionated Xe in ferrichromite and carbon, lightly fractionated Xe in phase Q, and ‘solar’ Xe in solubles. Because the first two can apparently be derived from the third by mass fractionation, it seems likely that all were trapped from the same solar nebula reservoir, but with different degrees of mass fractionation.     

Magnetic studies on Shergotty and other SNC meteorites

Hysteresis measurements on three shergottite and two nakhlite meteorites indicate single domain grain size behavior for the highly shocked Shergotty, Zagami, and EETA 79001 meteorites, with more multidomain-like behavior for the unshocked Nakhla and Governador Valadares meteorites. High viscosity and initial susceptibility for Antarctic shergottite ALHA 77005 indicate the presence of superparamagnetic grains in this specimen. Thermomagnetic curves likewise reveal a range of oxidation states for the high ulvospinel titanomagnetite grains which dominate the magnetic properties of these first five meteorites. Thermomagnetic analysis indicate Shergotty and Zagami as the least initially oxidized, while EETA 79001 appears to be the most oxidized. Cooling of the meteorite samples from high temperature in air results in a substantial increase in magnetization due to the production of magnetite through oxidation exsolution of titanomagnetite. However, vacuum heating substantially suppresses this process, and in the case of EETA 79001 and Nakhla, results in a rehomogenization of the titanomagnetite grains.Remanence measurements on several subsamples of Shergotty and Zagami meteorites reveal a large variation in intensity that does not seem related to the abundance of remanence carriers. The other meteorites carry only weak remanence, suggesting weak magnetizing fields as the source of their magnetic signal. A paleointensity experiment on a weakly magnetized subsample of Shergotty reveals a low temperature component of magnetization acquired in a field of 2,000 gammas. Also present was a high temperature component reflecting a paleo-field strength of between 250 and 1,000 gammas, depending on the nature and degree of alteration that the sample may have undergone with heating. This is consistent with an earlier paleointensity estimate of 1,000 gammas for ALHA 77005. The weak field environment that these meteorites seem to reflect is consistent with either a Martian or asteroidal body origin, but inconsistent with a terrestrial origin.     

Exposure history of shergottites

The cosmogenic nuclides ³⁶Cl (t_1/2 = 3.0 × 10⁵ years). ²⁶Al (7.05 × 10⁵ years). ¹⁰Be (1.6 × 10⁶ years) and ⁵³Mn (3.7 × 10⁶ years) were measured in three shergottites, ALHA 77005, EETA 79001, and Shergotty by accelerator mass spectrometry and neutron activation. The cosmogenic nuclide data constrain the history and origin of shergottites. ALHA 77005 was ejected from its parent body about 2.7 My ago and was exposed to cosmic rays as a body of 5–6 cm radius. Solar cosmic ray produced ²⁶A1 and ⁵³Mn were first clearly observed in this meteorite. The exposure age of EETA 79001 was 0.6 My and the preatmospheric radius was about 15 cm. The exposure age of Shergotty was calculated to be 2.2 My and the preatmospheric size was about 10–15 cm in radius. The terrestrial age of ALHA 77005 was 0.2 My and that of EETA 79001 was less than 0.06 My. All cosmogenic nuclide data indicate that the three shergottites were never exposed to cosmic rays in their parent bodies, whether that parent body was Mars or an asteroid. All shergottites were ejected from greater than a 3 m depth in their parent bodies. The ejection of EETA 79001 was a different event from that of the other shergottites.     

Noble-gas-rich separates from ordinary chondrites

Acid-resistant residues were prepared by HCl-HF demineralization of three H-type ordinary chondrites: Brownfield 1937 (H3), Dimmitt (H3,4), and Estacado (H6). These residues were found to contain a large proportion of the planetary-type trapped Ar, Kr, and Xe in the meteorites. The similarity of these acid residues to those from carbonaceous chondrites and LL-type ordinary chondrites suggests that the same phase carries the trapped noble gases in all these diverse meteorite types. Because the H group represents a large fraction of all meteorites, this result indicates that the gas-rich carrier phase is as universal as the trapped noble-gas component itself. When treated with an oxidizing etchant, the acid residues lost almost all their complement of noble gases. In addition, the Xe in at least one oxidized residue, from Dimmitt, displayed isotopic anomalies of the type known as CCFX or DME-Xe, which is characterized by simultaneous excesses of both the lightest and heaviest isotopes. The anomaly in the Dimmitt sample differs from that observed in carbonaceous-chondrite samples, however, in the relative proportions of the light- and heavy-isotope excesses.The results of this study do not show an inverse correlation between trapped ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ and trapped ³⁶Ar abundance, as has been reported for acid-resistant residues from LL-chondrites. The results of this work therefore fail to support the hypothesis that meteoritic trapped noble gas abundances were established at the time of condensation.     

Noble gases and nitrogen in Martian meteorites Dar al Gani 476, Sayh al Uhaymir 005 and Lewis Cliff 88516: EFA and extra neon

Meteorite “finds” from the terrestrial hot deserts have become a major contributor to the inventory of Martian meteorites. In order to understand their nitrogen and noble gas components, we have carried out stepped heating experiments on samples from two Martian meteorites collected from hot deserts. We measured interior and surface bulk samples, glassy and non-glassy portions of Dar al Gani 476 and Sayh al Uhaymir 005. We have also analyzed noble gases released from the Antarctic shergottite Lewis Cliff 88516 by crushing and stepped heating. For the hot desert meteorites significant terrestrial Ar, Kr, Xe contamination is observed, with an elementally fractionated air (EFA) component dominating the low temperature releases. The extremely low Ar/Kr/Xe ratios of EFA may be the result of multiple episodes of trapping/loss during terrestrial alteration involving aqueous fluids. We suggest fractionation processes similar to those in hot deserts to have acted on Mars, with acidic weathering on the latter possibly even more effective in producing elementally fractionated components. Addition from fission xenon is apparent in DaG 476 and SaU 005. The Ar-Kr-Xe patterns for LEW 88516 show trends as typically observed in shergottites - including evidence for a crush-released component similar to that observed in EETA 79001. A trapped Ne component most prominent in the surface sample of DaG 476 may represent air contamination. It is accompanied by little trapped Ar (²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar > 50) and literature data suggest its presence also in some Antarctic finds. Data for LEW 88516 and literature data, on the other hand, suggest the presence of two trapped Ne components of Martian origin characterized by different ²⁰Ne/²²Ne, possibly related to the atmosphere and the interior. Caution is recommended in interpreting nitrogen and noble gas isotopic signatures of Martian meteorites from hot deserts in terms of extraterrestrial sources and processes. Nevertheless our results provide hope that vice-versa, via noble gases and nitrogen in meteorites and other relevant samples from terrestrial deserts, Martian secondary processes can be studied.     

Trapped solar wind noble gases and exposure age of Luna 16 lunar fines

He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe concentrations and isotopic abundances were measured in three bulk grain size fractions prepared from sample L-16-19, No. 120 (C level, 20–22 cm depth) returned by the Luna 16 mission. The expected anticorrelation between the concentrations of trapped solar wind noble gases and grain size is observed. Elemental abundances of solar wind trapped noble gases are similar to those previously found in corresponding grain size fractions of the Apollo 11 and 12 fines. The trapped ratio ${}^4\text{He}{}^{20}\text{Ne}$ varies in the soils from different lunar maria due to diffusion losses. A rough correlation of ${}^4\text{He}{}^{20}\text{Ne}$ with the proportion of ilmenite in these samples is apparent. The elemental and isotopic ratios of the surface correlated noble gases in Luna 16 resemble those previously found in Apollo fines. Based on ²¹Ne, ⁷⁸Kr and ¹²⁶Xe a cosmic ray exposure age of 360 my was determined. This age is similar to those obtained for the soils from other lunar maria.     

Isotopic anomalies of noble gases in meteorites and their origins—IV. C3 (Ornans) carbonaceous chondrites

The C3O chondrites Kainsaz, Lancé and Ornans were studied by an acid dissolution technique, to characterize the noble-gas components in 3 mineral fractions: HF, HCl-solubles (99% of the meteorite), chromite and carbon (0.3–0.9%), and ‘phase Q’, a poorly characterized trace mineral (0.05–0.4%) containing most of the Ar, Kr, Xe. For all fractions, gas contents decline in the order Kainsaz > Lancé > Ornans; this trend parallels volatile contents but not heterogeneity of olivine composition or degree of metamorphism and seems to reflect progressively higher condensation temperatures from the solar nebula.Solubles contain nearly unfractionated Xe, and show ${}^{136}\text{Ar}{}^{132}\text{Xe}$ ratios up to 850. Hence the high $\text{Ar}\text{Xe}$ ratios (200–400) of bulk C3O chondrites must be due to an HF-soluble mineral (possibly magnetite). Phase Q contains ordinary planetary gases and a Ne component of ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}\text{= 10.3 ± 0.4.}$Chromite and carbon contain Ne of ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}\text{= 8.6 ± 0.1}$ and ‘CCF’ xenon (a peculiar component of possibly fissiogenic origin, enriched in the heavy isotopes but accompanied by a component enriched in the light isotopes).In all primitive chondrites, both the amount and the chemical separability of CCFXe parallel the abundance of promordial noble gases and other volatiles, such as C, N, Tl, Bi and In. The close correlation of CCFXe with various properties of undoubtedly local origin (volatile content, petrologic type, presence of ferrichromite and carbon, etc.) is more consistent with a local than with an extrasolar origin of this component. A volatile superheavy element seems to be the most plausible source, but the evidence is not conclusive.     

Intensive sampling of noble gases in fluids at Yellowstone: I. Early overview of the data; regional patterns

The Roving Automated Rare Gas Analysis (RARGA) lab of Berkeley's Physics Department was deployed in Yellowstone National Park for a 19 week period commencing in June, 1983. During this time 66 gas and water samples representing 19 different regions of hydrothermal activity within and around the Yellowstone caldera were analyzed on site. Routinely, the abundances of five stable noble gases and the isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar were determined for each sample. In a few cases the isotopes of Kr and Xe were also determined and found to be of normal atmospheric constitution.Correlated variations in the isotopic compositions of He and Ar can be explained within the precision of the measurements by mixing of only three distinct components. The first component is of magmatic origin and is enriched in the primordial isotope ³He with ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}\text{≥ 16}$ times the air value. This component also contains radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar and possible ³⁶Ar with ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}\text{≥ 500}$, resulting in a ${}^3\text{He}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio ≥ 41,000 times the air value. The second component is assumed to be purely radiogenic ⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar (${}^{41}\text{He}{}^{401}\text{Ar}\text{= 4.08 ± .33}$). This component is the probable carrier of observed excesses of ²¹¹Ne, attributed to the α,n reaction on ¹⁸O. Its radiogenic character implies a crustal origin in U. Th, and Krich aquifer rocks. The third component, except for possible mass fractionation, is isotopically indistinguishable from the noble gases in the atmosphere. This component originates largely from infiltrating run-off water saturated with atmospheric gases.In addition to exhibiting nucleogenic ²¹¹Ne, Ne data show anomalies in the ratio ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{20}\text{Ne}$, which correlate roughly with the ${}^{21}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}$ anomalies for the most part, but not as would occur from simple mass fractionation. Some exaggerated instances of the ${}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{Ne}$ anomaly occur which could be explained by combined mass fractionation of Ne and Ar isotopes to a severe degree coupled with remixing with normally isotopic gases. Otherwise exotic processes have to be invoked to explain the ²⁰Ne data.Relative abundances of the non-radiogenic and non-nucleogenic noble gases (²²Ne, ³⁶Ar, ⁸⁴Kr, and ¹³²Xe) are highly variable but strongly correlated. High Xe/Ar ratios are always accompanied by low Ne/ Ar ratios and vice versa. Except for water from the few cold (T < 20°C) springs analyzed, none of the samples have relative abundances consistent with air saturated water and the observed variations are not readily explained by the distillation of air saturated water.In characterizing each area of hydrothermal activity by the highest ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio found for that area, we find that within the caldera this parameter is somewhat uniform at ~7 ± 1 times the air value. There are exceptions, most notably at Mud Volcano, an area located along a crest of recent and rapid uplift. Here the maximum ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio is ~ 16 times the air value. Also noteworthy is Gibbon Basin which is in the vicinity of the most recent rhyolitic volcanism and exhibits a ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio ~ 13 times the air value. Immediately outside the caldera the maximum $\text{sol}{}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio decreases rapidly to values < ~3 times the air value.     

Noble gases in E-chondrites

Noble gas data are reported for 12 E-chondrites. Combined with literature data, they show that K-Ar ages are >4 Æ for 14 out of 18 meteorites, yet U, Th-He ages are often shorter, perhaps due to late, mild reheating. Cosmic-ray exposure ages differ systematically between types 4 and 6, with E4's mostly below 16 Myr and E6's above 30 Myr. This may mean that the E-chondrite parent body contains predominantly a single petrologic type on the (~ 1 km) scale of individual impacts, in contrast to the more thoroughly mixed parent bodies of the ordinary chondrites.The heavy noble gases consist of at least two primordial components: the usual planetary component (${}^{36}\text{Ar}{}^{132}\text{Xe}\text{~ 80}$) and a less fractionated, ‘subsolar’ component ($\text{2700 ≤}{}^{36}\text{Ar}{}^{132}\text{Xe}\text{≤ 3800}$). The latter is found in highest concentration in the E4 chondrite South Oman (³⁶Ar = 760 × 10^?8cc/g, ${}^{36}\text{Ar}{}^{132}\text{Xe}\text{= 2700}$). The isotopic compositions of both components are similar to typical planetary values, indicating that some factor other than mass controlled the noble gas elemental ratios. The heavy Xe isotopes occasionally show some of the lowest ${}^{134}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{Xe}$ and ${}^{136}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{Xe}$ ratios measured in bulk chondrites, suggestive of nearly fission-free Xe (e.g. ${}^{136}\text{Xe}{}^{132}\text{Xe}\text{= 0.3095 ± 0.0020}$). Amounts of planetary gas in E4 E6 chondrites fall in the range for ordinary chondrites of types 4–6, but, in contrast to the ordinary chondrites. fail to correlate with petrologic type or volatile trace element contents. Another unusual feature of E-chondrites is that primordial Ne is present even in most 4's and 5's (²⁰Ne_p ~ 1 to 7 × 10^?8cc/g). with an isotopic composition consistent with planetary Ne.Analyses of mineral separates show that the planetary gases are concentrated in an HF- and HCl-insoluble mineral similar to phase Q, the poorly characterized, HNO₃-soluble carrier of primordial gases in carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. The subsolar gases, on the other hand, are located in an HCl- and HNO₃-resistant phase, possibly enstatite or a minor phase included in enstatite. Much of the ¹²⁹Xe_r (50% for E4's, > 70% for E6's) is in HCl-resistant but HF-soluble sites, suggestive of a silicate.A similar subsolar component may be responsible for the high ${}^{36}\text{Ar}{}^{132}\text{Xe}$ ratios of some C3's, unequilibrated ordinary chondrites, and the unique aubrite Shallowater. The planet Venus also has a high $\text{Ar}\text{Kr}$ ratio, well above the planetary range, and hence may have acquired its noble gases from an E-chondrite-like material, similar to South Oman.     

40Ar39Ar dating of glauconites: Measured 39Ar recoil loss from well-crystallized specimens

Nine glauconite samples with relatively high K concentrations and which appear to be well crystallized using normal X-ray diffraction techniques have been studied using the ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ method. The glauconite ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ apparent ages exceed their KAr, RbSr and, in most cases, stratigraphic ages by substantial amounts. ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ release spectra sometimes yield plateaus but these apparent ages have no geological significance. The results indicate that ³⁹Ar is lost by recoil from mineral grains during neutron irradiation, consistent with previously reported observations. The amount of ³⁹Ar loss was measured by isotope dilution for four samples and varied from 29% to 17%. In contrast, radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar is quantitatively retained during irradiation. The very fine blades which make up glauconite grains yield the mineral susceptible to large amounts of ³⁹Ar loss and unsuitable for ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ dating.     

Isotopic anomalies of noble gases in meteorites and their origins—VII. C3V carbonaceous chondrites

Noble gases were measured in bulk samples of the C3V chondrites Grosnaja, Vigarano, and Leoville, and in HF,HCl-insoluble residues before and after etching with HNO₃. The residues were characterized by INAA and SEM. Gas components were determined, directly or by subtraction, for the following fractions: HF,HCl-solubles (?98% of the meteorite), ‘sphase Q’, a poorly characterized trace mineral that is insoluble in HCl-HF but soluble in HNO₃, and an insoluble residue, consisting of ferrichromite, carbonaceous matter, and spinel.Bulk meteorites show some correlation of the noble-gas pattern with McSween's subclasses: two ‘oxidized’ C3V's—Allende (LEWIS et al, 1975) and Grosnaja— have lower Ar/Xe but higher Ne/Xe ratios than the ‘reduced’ C3V's—Vigarano and Leoville—which are transitional to LL3's and C3O chondrites in both respects. An HCl-soluble mineral of high Ar/Xr ratio seems to be responsible. In other respects, the 3 C3V's of this study resemble Allende, with only moderate differences. Phase Q contains most of the Ar, Kr, Xe, but only small amounts of Ne; the etched residues contain planetary Ne ($\text{Ne}{}^{20}\text{Ne}{}^{22}\text{? 8.5}$) and the controversial CCFXe component, enriched in the heavy Xe isotopes ($\text{Xe136}\text{Xe132 ? 0.4–0.5}$). The CCFXe is accompanied by an ‘L-Xe’ component that is enriched in the light Xe isotopes. The proportion of the two is virtually constant in C3V's. as in all other C-chondrites. in contrast to the ~ 2-fold variation in ordinary chondrites.C3V's have systematically higher $\text{Xe}{}^{136}\text{Xe}{}^{132}$ ratios, and hence higher ratios of CCFXe to planetary Xe, than do other chondrite classes. This may reflect some peculiarity in their formation conditions, favoring uptake of CCFXe.     

40Ar39Ar dating,Ar diffusion properties,and cooling rate determinations of severely shocked chondrites

Determinations of ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ ages are reported for seven severely shock-heated chondrites. Shaw gives a plateau age of 4.29 Gyr. Louisville, Farmington, and Wickenburg give well-defined intercept ages of 0.5–0.6 Gyr. Orvinio, Arapahoe, and Lubbock show complex ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{39}\text{Ar}$ release curves, with age minima of 0.7–1.0 Gyr. Degassing times of 0.5–1.0 Gyr are suggested for these meteorites. Most severely shocked chondrites were apparently not totally degassed of ⁴⁰Ar by the event, but retained from ~ 2 to ~45% of their ⁴⁰Ar. When calculated values of the diffusion parameter, $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$, for Ar are examined in Arrhenius plots, they show two distinct linear relationships, which apparently correspond to the degassing of different mineral phases with distinct $\text{K}\text{Ca}$ ratios and different average temperatures for Ar release. The experimentally determined values of $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$ for the high temperature phase of several severely shocked chondrites are ~10^?7 to 10^?5sec^?1 for their determined shock-heating temperatures of ~950°C to ~ 1200°C. The inferred reheating temperatures, $\text{D}\text{a}{}^2$ values, and fraction of ⁴⁰Ar loss during the reheating event for these seven chondrites suggest post-shock cooling rates and burial depth of ~ 10^?2 10^?4°C/sec and ~0.5–2m, respectively. For three chondrites these cooling rates agree with those determined from Ni diffusion in metal grains: for five chondrites the cooling rates derived from ⁴⁰Ar and Ni disagree by a factor of ~10⁵. It is suggested that five of these severely shocked chondrites were part of large ejecta blankets containing hot material and cold clasts with a distribution of sizes and that the cooling rate of this ejecta appreciably decreased as a function of time.     

Noble gas evidence for two fluids in the Baca (Valles Caldera) geothermal reservoir

Noble gas elemental and isotopic abundances were measured in steam from four wells in the Baca geothermal reservoir located in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. The ${}^{40}\text{Ar}{}^{36}\text{Ar}$ ratio and noble gas elemental abundances relative to ³⁶Ar are all strongly correlated with 1/³⁶Ar, the inverse of the argon content. Ratios of (α,n)-produced ²¹Ne1 and radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar1 to total ⁴He (dominantly radiogenic) are nearly constant at 2.1 × 10?8 and 0.20, respectively. The ${}^3\text{He}{}^4\text{He}$ ratio covers a restricted range of 3.9 to 4.8 times atmospheric. The high ³He content of the gas indicates the presence of a helium component ultimately derived from the mantle. Kr and Xe isotopic compositions are close to atmospheric; excess ¹²⁹Xe1 is <0.25% of the total ¹²⁹Xe.The high degree of linear correlation among the various noble gas results strongly suggests that the Baca reservoir contains two distinct fluids that are produced in varying proportions from individual wells. The noble gases in fluid A (~2900 mg/1 C1) are air-like, but with lighter gases and isotopes preferentially enriched. The fluid A ³⁶Ar content is low, only 13% that of 10°C air-saturated water (ASW). The second fluid, B (~ 1700 mg/1 C1), is the dominant carrier of the radiogenic and mantle-derived gases. The heavier non-radiogenic gases are preferentially enriched in fluid B, and its ³⁶Ar content is very low, only 5–7% ASW. The source of the noble gases in fluid A is tentatively ascribed to leaching of the relatively young (<1.4 m.y.) volcanic Bandelier Tuff. The radiogenic gases and mantle-derived helium in fluid B suggest a deeper source, possibly including gases escaping from a magma.     

Hf-W isotope systematics of chondrites, eucrites, and martian meteorites: Chronology of core formation and early mantle differentiation in Vesta and Mars

The timescale of accretion and differentiation of asteroids and the terrestrial planets can be constrained using the extinct ¹⁸²Hf-¹⁸²W isotope system. We present new Hf-W data for seven carbonaceous chondrites, five eucrites, and three shergottites. The W isotope data for the carbonaceous chondrites agree with the previously revised ¹⁸²W/¹⁸⁴W of chondrites, and the combined chondrite data yield an improved ?_W value for chondrites of −1.9 ± 0.1 relative to the terrestrial standard. New Hf-W data for the eucrites, in combination with published results, indicate that mantle differentiation in the eucrite parent body (Vesta) occurred at 4563.2 ± 1.4 Ma and suggest that core formation took place 0.9 ± 0.3 Myr before mantle differentiation. Core formation in asteroids within the first ∼5 Myr of the solar system is consistent with the timescales deduced from W isotope data of iron meteorites. New W isotope data for the three basaltic shergottites EETA 79001, DaG 476, and SAU 051, in combination with published ¹⁸²W and ¹⁴²Nd data for Martian meteorites reveal the preservation of three early formed mantle reservoirs in Mars. One reservoir (Shergottite group), represented by Zagami, ALH77005, Shergotty, EETA 79001, and possibly SAU 051, is characterized by chondritic ¹⁴²Nd abundances and elevated ?_W values of ∼0.4. The ¹⁸²W excess of this mantle reservoir results from core formation. Another mantle reservoir (NC group) is sampled by Nakhla, Lafayette, and Chassigny and shows coupled ¹⁴²Nd-¹⁸²W excesses of 0.5-1 and 2-3 ? units, respectively. Formation of this mantle reservoir occurred 10-20 Myr after CAI condensation. Since the end of core formation is constrained to 7-15 Myr, a time difference between early silicate mantle differentiation and core formation is not resolvable for Mars. A third early formed mantle reservoir (DaG group) is represented by DaG 476 (and possibly SAU 051) and shows elevated ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios of 0.5-0.7 ? units and ?_W values that are indistinguishable from the Shergottite group. The time of separation of this third reservoir can be constrained to 50-150 Myr after the start of the solar system. Preservation of these early formed mantle reservoirs indicates limited convective mixing in the Martian mantle as early as ∼15 Myr after CAI condensation and suggests that since this time no giant impact occurred on Mars that could have led to mantle homogenization. Given that core formation in planetesimals was completed within the first ∼5 Myr of the solar system, it is most likely that Mars and Earth accreted from pre-differentiated planetesimals. The metal cores of Mars and Earth, however, cannot have formed by simply combining cores from these pre-differentiated planetesimals. The ¹⁸²W/¹⁸⁴W ratios of the Martian and terrestrial mantles require late effective removal of radiogenic ¹⁸²W, strongly suggesting the existence of magma oceans on both planets. Large impacts were probably the main heat source that generated magma oceans and led to the formation metallic cores in the terrestrial planets. In contrast, decay of short-lived ²⁶Al and ⁶⁰Fe were important heat sources for melting and core formation in asteroids.