The cosmic ray record in the San Juan Capistrano meteorite

An integrated study of the cosmic ray exposure history of the San Juan Capistrano meteorite was carried out using measurements of rare gas isotopic abundances, particle track densities and radioisotope concentrations. Spallation systematics determined for Kr isotopes in lunar samples are shown to be valid also for the San Juan Capistrano and St. Severin meteorites, thus allowing us to determine a reliable ⁸¹Kr/⁸³Kr production ratio as needed for applying the ⁸¹Kr-Kr dating method. The ⁸¹Kr-Kr age of SJC is 28.7 ± 2.0 Myr, about 35% longer than ages determined by spallation He or Ne. The minimum observed track production rate (2.6 × 10⁵ tracks/cm² · Myr) sets a minimum of 8 cm for the preatmospheric radius of an assumed spherical body. Track density gradients and the low ⁶⁰Co activity (<2.9 dpm/g Co) both set an upper limit of 10 cm to the radius. Track results show that ablation losses have averaged 6cm. The relative spallation yields of ⁷⁸Kr and ⁸³Kr, and the ratios ³He/²¹Ne and ²²Ne/²¹Ne are all compatible with a hard irradiation as would be experienced by a sample depth of about 6 cm in a body of 8–10 cm. The low activities of ⁵⁴Mn, ²²Na and ²⁶Al are also consistent with these irradiation conditions.