Detection of terrestrial fluorine by proton induced gamma emission (PIGE): A rapid quantification for Antarctic meteorites

Abstract— The enrichment of fluorine on the surface of Antarctic meteorites is investigated by applying the nuclear reactions ¹⁹F(p, αγ)¹⁶O or ¹⁹F(p, p'γ)¹⁹F with the proton induced gamma emission (PIGE) technique, a class of nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). Results for the Antarctic meteorites ALHA77294, TIL 82409, LEW 86015, ALHA77003, and ALH 83108 are presented. Possible sources of terrestrial F are: volcanic exhalation, tephra layers (volcanic glass), continental soil dust, or sea spray. Material from blue‐ice dust‐band samples also shows concentrations of F that are significantly higher than the bulk concentrations of meteorites. Finally, a quick investigation for Antarctic meteorites by external PIGE is proposed, leading to a F‐contamination index that supplements the qualitative ABC‐weathering index.