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Thirty-eight spherules from the Antarctic ice sheet were analyzed using neutron activation analysis under two different conditions to investigate their origin. In almost all of these spherules, the contents of iron, cobalt, and manganese were determined to be 31% to 88%, 17 mg/kg to 810 mg/kg, and 0.017% to 7%, respectively. A detectable iridium content of 0.84 mg/kg was found in only one spherule, which was judged to be extraterrestrial in origin. A comparison of elemental compositions of the Antarctic spherules analyzed in this study with those of deep-sea sediment spherules and those of terrestrial materials revealed that most of the Antarctic spherules except for the sample in which iridium was detected could not be identified as extraterrestrial in origin.

An instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) procedure for analyzing extremely small samples was developed and applied to two kinds of extraterrestrial samples. A few mg of the Allende meteorite as well as the JB-1 basalt can work well as a reference sample for a relative method. To evaluate the applicability of this INAA procedure, detection limits are presented and compared with the elemental contents in a potential sample to be analyzed. The possibility of reuse of neutron-irradiated samples for mass spectrometry was noted by indicating degree of increase in isotopic abundance for noble gas and long-lived radioactive nuclides.

Neutron activation cross sections for Bi and Co at 386 MeV were measured by activation method. A quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam was produced using the (7)Li(p,n) reaction. The energy spectrum of these neutrons has a high-energy peak (386 MeV) and a low-energy tail. Two neutron beams, 0° and 25° from the proton beam axis, were used for sample irradiation, enabling a correction for the contribution of the low-energy neutrons. The neutron-induced activation cross sections were estimated by subtracting the reaction rates of irradiated samples for 25° irradiation from those of 0° irradiation. The measured cross sections were compared with the findings of other studies, evaluated in relation to nuclear data files and the calculated data by Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System code.

Distribution behavior of Ce(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) between tri-n-butyl phosphate solution and molten calcium nitrate hydrate Ca(NO3)2·RH2O or molten calcium chloride hydrate CaCl2·RH2O was studied radiochemically. In Ca(NO3)2·RH2O systems, maximum separation factors of Ce and Cm to Am were observed to be 12 (Ce/Am) and 1.7 (Cm/Am). The distribution ratios of these elements increased with the decrease of water activity in the hydrates, and the extractabilities at the water deficient region was less sensitive compared to those at the water abundant region. This trend was similar to the coordination circumstance change observed in electronic absorption spectra of Nd(III) in the hydrates.

The northern Abukuma region of Japan is thickly covered by weathered Mesozoic granite. We investigated the vertical distribution of radionuclides (10Be, 26Al, and 36Cl) produced by cosmic irradiation of weathered granitic soil collected from this region at a sampling site located 496 m above sea level, at 37°30′52.6″N, 140°40′13.2″E. We mechanically and chemically separated quartz particles from the weathered granitic soil, and purified them. We also analyzed the vertical distribution of 26Al, 10Be, and 36Cl and estimated a long term averaged erosion rates of 0.019 ± 0.001 mm/y from 26Al, 0.017 ± 0.001 mm/y from 10Be, and not, vert, similar0.01 ± 0.001 mm/y from 36Cl. These cosmogenic erosion rates are comparable to the rate estimated from a geomorphological evolution model and with the observed sedimentary deposition rate at Abukuma.