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Measurements of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl in Apollo 16 double drive core 68002/68001 are combined with a high resolution digital surface model of the sampling site to investigate the surface processes on the Moon. We find both a significant deficit of solar cosmic ray (SCR)-produced 26Al and a lack of SCR-produced 36Cl in the top 3–5 g/cm2 of the lunar regolith. The topographic model shows the core was taken from just inside a crater with a rim diameter of 25–30 cm. These observations are consistent with regolith removal and displacement by a shallow impact that occurred on the order of 100 kyr ago, or less. Our findings are also compatible with shallow mixing, or gardening, of the lunar regolith to depths of a few cm, a value often found in other lunar cores over the ∼106 yr averaging times of 26Al and 53Mn measurements. More definitive regolith mixing depth estimates are not possible due to the likelihood of disturbance in the top of the core as a result of sampling and/or handling. Our results support the hypothesis that the lunar surface experiences more frequent disturbances by small primary and secondary impacts than has previously been assumed. Additionally, we find no evidence that fine-grained ejecta from the 2.0 Myr old South Ray Crater impact reached this site. If the layer of fine-grained ejecta that reached the sampling site from the South Ray Crater was no more than a few cm thick, this absence can be explained by the erosion that formed the small, relatively recent crater at the coring location.

Cosmic-ray exposure records of 13 lunar meteorites, Dhofar 081, Dhofar 910, Dhofar 911, Northwest Africa (NWA) 482, NWA 2995, NWA 2996, NWA 3136, NWA 3163, NWA 4472, NWA 4734, NWA 4884, NWA 4932, and NWA 4936, were characterized from the abundances of spallogenic (10Be and 26Al) and neutron-captured (36Cl, 41Ca,150Sm, and 168Er) nuclides produced by cosmic-ray irradiation. Assuming a single-stage irradiation model for individual meteorites, 11 of the 13 meteorites had resided at shallow depths in the range of 55 to 330 g cm−2 from the lunar surface and experienced cosmic-ray irradiations for 140–870 Ma on the Moon. In contrast, 2 of the 13 meteorites, Dhofar 911 and NWA 4932, cannot be simply explained by a single-stage irradiation, but need at least two-stage irradiation on the Moon. Furthermore, the neutron fluences of thermal and epithermal energy regions for individual meteorites were quantified from a combination of the isotopic shifts of 149Sm–150Sm and 167Er–168Er, respectively. Our estimates gave 8–11 times higher epithermal neutron fluences (1.7–13.7 × 101 7 neutrons cm−2) than the thermal neutron fluences (0.65–13.8 × 1016 neutrons cm−2) for 9 of the 13 meteorites, which are consistent with those from the lunar regolith materials in our previous study. This result also supports the long cosmic-ray irradiation of most lunar meteorites on the surface of the Moon.

A carbonaceous chondrite was recovered immediately after the fall near the village of Diepenveen in the Netherlands on October 27, 1873, but came to light only in 2012. Analysis of sodium and poly-aromatic hydrocarbon content suggests little contamination from handling. Diepenveen is a regolith breccia with an overall petrology consistent with a CM classification. Unlike most other CM chondrites, the bulk oxygen isotopes are extremely O-16 rich, apparently dominated by the signature of anhydrous minerals, distributed on a steep slope pointing to the domain of intrinsic CM water. A small subset plots closer to the normal CM regime, on a parallel line 2 parts per thousand lower in delta O-17. Different lithologies in Diepenveen experienced varying levels of aqueous alteration processing, being less aqueously altered at places rather than more heated. The presence of an agglutinate grain and the properties of methanol-soluble organic compounds point to active impact processing of some of the clasts. Diepenveen belongs to a CM clan with similar to 5Ma CRE age, longer than most other CM chondrites, and has a relatively young K-Ar resetting age of similar to 1.5Ga. As a CM chondrite, Diepenveen may be representative of samples soon to be returned from the surface of asteroid (162173) Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft.

Geological surface-exposure dating using cosmogenic-nuclide accumulation became a practical geochronological endeavor in 1986, when the utility of 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 3He were all demonstrated. In response to the lack of a common basis for quantifying analytical consistency and calibrating cosmogenic-nuclide production, the CRONUS-Earth Project in the U.S. was started in 2005, along with a European partner project, CRONUS-EU. The goal of the CRONUS-Earth Project was to improve the accuracy and precision of terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating in general, focusing especially on nuclide production rates and their variation with altitude, latitude, and time, and to attempt to move from empirically based methods to ones with a stronger basis in physics. The CRONUS-Earth Project conducted extensive intercomparisons of reference materials to attempt to quantify analytical reproducibility at the community level. We found that stated analytical uncertainties nearly always underestimate the actual degree of variability, as quantified by the over-all coefficient of variation of the intercalibration data. The average amount by which the actual coefficient of variation exceeded the analytical uncertainty was a factor of two (100%), but ranged from 15% to 300% depending on the nuclide and material. Coefficients of variation ranged from 3−4% for 10Be to 6–8% for 36Cl, 14C, and 21Ne, to 5–11% for 26Al. Both interlaboratory bias and within-laboratory excess spread of the data played a role in increasing variability above the stated analytical uncertainties. The physical basis for cosmogenic nuclide production was investigated through numerical modeling and the measurement of energy-dependent neutron cross sections for nuclide interactions. We formulated new, physically based, scaling models, denoted LSD and LSDn, by generalizing global numerical simulations of cosmic-ray processes. The CRONUS-Earth Project identified new geological calibration sites, including one at low latitude and high elevation (Huancane, Peru), and replicated nuclide measurement at numerous laboratories. At many sites multiple nuclides were measured, providing much more confidence in the equivalence of surface-exposure ages calculated from differing nuclides. The data were interpreted using an original cosmogenic-nuclide calculator, CRONUScalc, that incorporates the new physically based scaling. The new data and model produced significantly better fits than previous efforts, but do not fully resolve apparent spatial variations in production rates. The CRONUS-Earth and CRONUS-EU Projects have provided a firm foundation for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of cosmogenic-nuclide analytical methods, adjusted the AMS standards for 10Be and consequently revised the half-life, and have provided improved calibration data sets and interpretative tools.

We calibrated the Kr 81 Kr dating system for ordinary chondrites of different sizes using independent shielding corrected Cl 36 Ar 36 ages. Krypton concentrations and isotopic compositions were measured in bulk samples from 14 ordinary chondrites of high petrologic type and the cosmogenic Kr component was obtained by subtracting trapped Kr from phase Q. The thus determined average cosmogenic Kr 78/Kr 83 Kr 80/Kr 83 Kr 82/Kr 83 and Kr 84/Kr 83 ratios are slightly different from earlier estimates (Lavielle and Marti 1988; Wieler 2002). The cosmogenic Kr 78/Kr 83 ratio is correlated with the cosmogenic Ne 22/Ne 21 ratio confirming that Kr 78/Kr 83 is a reliable shielding indicator. Previously Kr 81 Kr ages have been determined by assuming the cosmogenic production rate of Kr 81 P(Kr 81)(c) to be 0.95 times the average of the cosmogenic production rates of Kr 80 and Kr 82; the factor Y=0.95 therefore accounts for the unequal production of the various Kr isotopes (Marti 1967a). However Y should be regarded as an empirical adjustment. For samples whose Kr 80 and Kr 82 concentrations may be affected by neutron capture reactions the shielding dependent cosmogenic (Kr 78/Kr 83)(c) ratio has been used instead to calculate P(Kr 81)/P(Kr 83) as for some lunar samples this ratio has been shown to linearly increase with (Kr 78/Kr 83)(c) (Marti and Lugmair 1971). However the Kr 81 Kr ages of our samples calculated with these methods are on average similar to 30 higher than their Cl 36 Ar 36 ages indicating that most if not all the Kr 81 Kr ages determined so far are significantly too high. We therefore re evaluated both methods to determine P(Kr 81)(c)/P(Kr 83)(c). Our new Y value of 0.70 +/ 0.04 is more than 25 lower than the value of 0.95 used so far. Furthermore together with literature data our data indicate that for chondrites P(Kr 81)(c)/P(Kr 83)(c) is rather constant at 0.43 +/ 0.02 at least for the shielding range covered by our samples ([Kr 78/Kr 83](c)=0.119 0.185; [Ne 22/Ne 21](c)=1.083 1.144) in contrast to the observations on lunar samples. As expected considering the method used Kr 81 Kr ages calculated either directly with this new P(Kr 81)(c)/P(Kr 83)(c) value or with our new Y value both agree with the corresponding Cl 36 Ar 36 ages. However the average deviation of 2 indicates the accuracy of both new Kr 81 Kr dating methods and the precision of the new dating systems of similar to 10 is demonstrated by the low scatter in the data. Consequently this study indicates that the Kr 81 Kr ages published so far are up to 30 too high.

The production cross sections of 10Be and 26Al were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry using 89Y, 159Tb, and natCu targets bombarded by protons with energies Ep of 120 GeV and 392 MeV. The production cross sections obtained for 10Be and 26Al were compared with those previously reported using Ep = 50 MeV–24 GeV and various targets. It was found that the production cross sections of 10Be monotonically increased with increasing target mass number when the proton energy was greater than a few GeV. On the other hand, it was also found that the production cross sections of 10Be decreased as the target mass number increased from that of carbon to those near the mass numbers of nickel and zinc when the proton energy was below approximately 1 GeV. They also increased as the target mass number increased from near those of nickel and zinc to that of bismuth, in the same proton energy range. Similar results were observed in the production cross sections of 26Al, though the absolute values were quite different between 10Be and 26Al. The difference between these production cross sections may depend on the impact parameter (nuclear radius) and/or the target nucleus stiffness.

Well-dated bedrock surfaces associated with the highstand and subsequent catastrophic draining of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, Utah, during the Bonneville flood are excellent locations for in situ cosmogenic nuclide production rate calibration. The CRONUS-Earth project sampled wave-polished bedrock and boulders on an extensive wave-cut bench formed during the Bonneville-level highstand that was abandoned almost instantaneously during the Bonneville flood. CRONUS-Earth also sampled the Tabernacle Hill basalt flow that erupted into Lake Bonneville soon after its stabilization at the Provo level, following the flood. New radiocarbon dating results from tufa at the margins of Tabernacle Hill as part of this study have solidified key aspects of the exposure history at both sites. Both sites have well-constrained exposure histories in which factors such as potential prior exposure, erosion, and shielding are either demonstrably negligible or quantifiable. Multi-nuclide analyses from multiple labs serve as an ad hoc inter-laboratory comparison that supplements and expands on the formalized CRONUS-Earth and CRONUS-EU inter-laboratory comparisons (Blard et al., 2015; Jull et al., 2015; Vermeesch et al., 2015). Results from 10Be, 26Al, and 14C all exhibit scatter comparable to that observed in the CRONUS-Earth effort. Although a 36Cl inter-laboratory comparison was not completed for Jull et al. (2015), 36Cl from plagioclase mineral separates exhibits comparable reproducibility. Site production rates derived from these measurements provide valuable input to the global production rate calibration described by Borchers et al. (2015). Whole-rock 36Cl concentrations, however, exhibit inter-laboratory variation exceeding analytical uncertainty and outside the ranges observed for the other nuclides (Jull et al., 2015). A rigorous inter-laboratory comparison studying the systematics of whole-rock 36Cl extraction techniques is currently underway with the goals of delineating the source(s) of this discrepancy and standardizing these procedures going forward.

The Almahata Sitta strewn field is dominated by ureilites, but contains a large fraction of chondritic fragments of various types. We analyzed stable isotopes of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe, and the cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 26Al, and 36Cl in six chondritic Almahata Sitta fragments (EL6 breccia, EL6, EL3-5, CB, LL4/5, R-like). The cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) ages of five of the six samples have an average of 19.2 ± 3.3 Ma, close to the average of 19.5 ± 2.5 Ma for four ureilites. The cosmogenic radionuclide concentrations in the chondrites indicate a preatmospheric size consistent with Almahata Sitta. This corroborates that Almahata Sitta chondrite samples were part of the same asteroid as the ureilites. However, MS-179 has a lower CRE age of 11.0 ± 1.4 Ma. Further analysis of short-lived radionuclides in fragment MS-179 showed that it fell around the same time, and from an object of similar size as Almahata Sitta, making it almost certain that MS-179 is an Almahata Sitta fragment. Instead, its low CRE age could be due to gas loss, chemical heterogeneity that may have led to an erroneous 21Ne production-rate, or, perhaps most likely, MS-179 could represent the true 4π exposure age of Almahata Sitta (or an upper limit thereof), while all other samples analyzed so far experienced exposure on the parent body of similar lengths. Finally, MS-179 had an extraordinarily high activity of neutron-capture 36Cl, ~600 dpm kg−1, the highest activity observed in any meteorite to date, related to a high abundance of the Cl-bearing mineral lawrencite.

International audience; Northwest Africa (NWA) 8159 is an augite-rich shergottite, with a mineralogy dominated by Ca-, Fe-rich pyroxene, plagioclase, olivine, and magnetite. NWA 8159 crystallized from an evolved melt of basaltic composition under relatively rapid conditions of cooling, likely in a surface lava flow or shallow sill. Redox conditions experienced by the melt shifted from relatively oxidizing (with respect to known Martian lithologies, similar to QFM) on the liquidus to higher oxygen fugacity (similar to QFM + 2) during crystallization of the groundmass, and under subsolidus conditions. This shift resulted in the production of orthopyroxene and magnetite replacing olivine phenocryst rims. NWA 8159 contains both crystalline and shock-amorphized plagioclase (An(5062)), often observed within a single grain; based on known calibrations we bracket the peak shock pressure experienced by NWA 8159 to between 15 and 23 GPa. The bulk composition of NWA 8159 is depleted in LREE, as observed for Tissint and other depleted shergottites; however, NWA 8159 is distinct from all other martian lithologies in its bulk composition and oxygen fugacity. We obtain a Sm-Nd formation age of 2.37 +/- 0.25 Ga for NWA 8159, which represents an interval in Mars geologic time which, until recently, was not represented in the other martian meteorite types. The bulk rock Sm-147/Nd-144 value of 0.37 +/- 0.02 is consistent with it being derived directly from its source and the high initial epsilon(143)(Nd) value indicates this source was geochemically highly depleted. Cr, Nd, and W isotopic compositions further support a unique mantle source. While the rock shares similarities with the 2.4-Ga NWA 7635 meteorite, there are notable distinctions between the two meteorites that suggest differences in mantle source compositions and conditions of crystallization. Nevertheless, the two samples may be launch-paired. NWA 8159 expands the known basalt types, ages and mantle sources within the Mars sample suite to include a second igneous unit from the early Amazonian.(C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Sutter's Mill (SM) carbonaceous chondrite fell in California on April 22, 2012. The cosmogenic radionuclide data indicate that Sutter's Mill was exposed to cosmic rays for 0.082 ± 0.008 Myr, which is one of the shortest ages for C chondrites, but overlaps with a small cluster at approximately 0.1 Myr. The age is significantly longer than proposed ages that were obtained from cosmogenic noble gas concentrations, which have large uncertainties due to trapped noble gas corrections. The presence of neutron-capture 60Co and 36Cl in SM indicates a minimum preatmospheric radius of approximately 50 cm, and is consistent with a radius of 1–2 m, as derived from the fireball observations. Although a large preatmospheric size was proposed, one fragment (SM18) contains solar cosmic ray–produced short-lived radionuclides, such as 56Co and 51Cr. This implies that this specimen was less than 2 cm from the preatmospheric surface of Sutter's Mill. Although this conclusion seems surprising, it is consistent with the observation that the meteoroid fragmented high in the atmosphere. The presence of SCR-produced nuclides is consistent with the high SCR fluxes observed during the last few months before the meteorite's fall, when its orbit was less than 1 AU from the Sun.

Reaction cross sections for Cr and Y induced by neutrons at 197 MeV were measured by using 7 Li(p,n) reaction at N0 beam line in the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka University. To estimate quasi-monoenergetic neutron cross sections, Cr and Y samples were irradiated on the two angles of 0 ∘ and 25 ∘ relative to the axis of the primary proton beam. The measured cross section data in the nat Cr(n,x) and 89 Y(n,x) reactions are compared to the JENDL high-energy file and the literature proton values, respectively. The results obtained are also compared to the cross section data for the same target materials with 287 and 386 MeV neutrons in our previous work.

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.

We measured the concentrations and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar in bulk samples and metal separates of 14 ordinary chondrite falls with long exposure ages and high metamorphic grades. In addition, we measured concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 26Al, and 36Cl in metal separates and in the nonmagnetic fractions of the selected meteorites. Using cosmogenic 36Cl and 36Ar measured in the metal separates, we determined 36Cl-36Ar cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) ages, which are shielding-independent and therefore particularly reliable. Using the cosmogenic noble gases and radionuclides, we are able to decipher the CRE history for the studied objects. Based on the correlation 3He/21Ne versus 22Ne/21Ne, we demonstrate that, among the meteorites studied, only one suffered significant diffusive losses (about 35%). The data confirm that the linear correlation 3He/21Ne versus 22Ne/21Ne breaks down at high shielding. Using 36Cl-36Ar exposure ages and measured noble gas concentrations, we determine 21Ne and 38Ar production rates as a function of 22Ne/21Ne. The new data agree with recent model calculations for the relationship between 21Ne and 38Ar production rates and the 22Ne/21Ne ratio, which does not always provide unique shielding information. Based on the model calculations, we determine a new correlation line for 21Ne and 38Ar production rates as a function of the shielding indicator 22Ne/21Ne for H, L, and LL chondrites with preatmospheric radii less than about 65 cm. We also calculated the 10Be/21Ne and 26Al/21Ne production rate ratios for the investigated samples, which show good agreement with recent model calculations.

The Mifflin meteorite fell on the night of April 14, 2010, in southwestern Wisconsin. A bright fireball was observed throughout a wide area of the midwestern United States. The petrography, mineral compositions, and oxygen isotope ratios indicate that the meteorite is a L5 chondrite fragmental breccia with light/dark structure. The meteorite shows a low shock stage of S2, although some shock-melted veins are present. The U,Th-He age is 0.7Ga, and the K-Ar age is 1.8Ga, indicating that Mifflin might have been heated at the time of the 470Ma L-chondrite parent body breakup and that U, Th-He, and K-Ar ages were partially reset. The cosmogenic radionuclide data indicate that Mifflin was exposed to cosmic rays while its radius was 3065cm. Assuming this exposure geometry, a cosmic-ray exposure age of 25 +/- 3Ma is calculated from cosmogenic noble gas concentrations. The low 22Ne/21Ne ratio may, however, indicate a two-stage exposure with a longer first-stage exposure at high shielding. Mifflin is unusual in having a low radiogenic gas content combined with a low shock stage and no evidence of late stage annealing; this inconsistency remains unexplained. (Less)

The production cross sections of 10 Be, 26 Al and 36 Cl produced from Cu and Y targets irradiated with 300 MeV protons were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Using these cross section values in conjunction with those of the spallation products we confirm that nuclear fragmentation contributes to production of 10 Be in the 300 MeV proton-induced reactions for Cu and Y. These cross sections obtained are compared to cross sections of 10 Be, 26 Al and 36 Cl from 300 MeV proton-induced reactions for other target elements. We also confirm that the cross section values of 10 Be and 36 Cl for Cu and Y are consistent with the tendency of those cross section values to decrease with increasing target mass.

The cross sections for the reactions O( n , x ) 10 Be, Si( n , x ) 10 Be, and Si( n , x ) 26 Al were measured at neutron energies 71 and 112 MeV. The neutron cross sections for O( n , x ) 10 Be are higher than the corresponding proton cross sections at 70–110 MeV and the neutron induced cross section for Si( n , x ) 10 Be at 112 MeV is slightly higher than the corresponding proton cross section. Cross sections for the production of 26 Al from Si are similar to those from protons at low energies ( n , x ) 26 Al are lower than the corresponding proton cross sections. Energy integrated (average) cross sections for these reactions were measured using ‘white’ neutron beams (0.1 E n 26 Al/ 10 Be production rate ratio from SiO 2 measured using ‘white’ neutrons is considerably lower than that observed in terrestrial quartz (SiO 2 ).

To improve sample processing efficiency for cosmogenic radionuclide measurements in samples from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide core, two chemical lines, one at Purdue University and one at the University of California, Berkeley, are being used. Sections from two shallow ice cores from West Antarctica were processed at each lab, while all 10Be accelerator mass spectrometry measurements were performed at PRIME Lab, Purdue University. Duplicate samples gave 10Be results that are identical to within the AMS measurement uncertainties of 2–3%.

Martian meteorites from a single Mars ejection site record 2 billion years of magmatic activity., The timing and nature of igneous activity recorded at a single Mars ejection site can be determined from the isotope analyses of Martian meteorites. Northwest Africa (NWA) 7635 has an Sm-Nd crystallization age of 2.403 ± 0.140 billion years, and isotope data indicate that it is derived from an incompatible trace element–depleted mantle source similar to that which produced a geochemically distinct group of 327- to 574-million-year-old “depleted” shergottites. Cosmogenic nuclide data demonstrate that NWA 7635 was ejected from Mars 1.1 million years ago (Ma), as were at least 10 other depleted shergottites. The shared ejection age is consistent with a common ejection site for these meteorites. The spatial association of 327- to 2403-Ma depleted shergottites indicates >2 billion years of magmatism from a long-lived and geochemically distinct volcanic center near the ejection site.

International audience; We present the WD2014 chronology for the upper part (0–2850 m; 31.2 ka BP) of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide (WD) ice core. The chronology is based on counting of annual layers observed in the chemical, dust and electrical conductivity records. These layers are caused by seasonal changes in the source, transport, and deposi-tion of aerosols. The measurements were interpreted manually and with the aid of two automated methods. We validated the chronology by comparing to two high-accuracy, absolutely dated chronologies. For the Holocene, the cos-mogenic isotope records of 10 Be from WAIS Divide and 14 C for IntCal13 demonstrated that WD2014 was consistently accurate to better than 0.5 % of the age. For the glacial period, comparisons to the Hulu Cave chronology demonstrated that WD2014 had an accuracy of better than 1 % of the age at three abrupt climate change events between 27 and 31 ka. WD2014 has consistently younger ages than Green-land ice core chronologies during most of the Holocene. For Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 770 M. Sigl et al.: The WAIS Divide deep ice core WD2014 chronology the Younger Dryas–Preboreal transition (11.595 ka; 24 years younger) and the Bølling–Allerød Warming (14.621 ka; 7 years younger), WD2014 ages are within the combined uncertainties of the timescales. Given its high accuracy, WD2014 can become a reference chronology for the Southern Hemisphere, with synchronization to other chronologies feasible using high-quality proxies of volcanism, solar activity , atmospheric mineral dust, and atmospheric methane concentrations.

We present the results of a noble gas (He, Ne, Ar) and cosmogenic radionuclide (10Be, 26Al, 36Cl) analysis of two chondritic fragments (#A100, L4 and #25, H5) found in the Almahata Sitta strewn field in Sudan. We confirm their earlier attribution to the same fall as the ureilites dominating the strewn field, based on the following findings: (1) both chondrite samples indicate a preatmospheric radius of approximately 300 g cm-2, consistent with the preatmospheric size of asteroid 2008 TC3 that produced the Almahata Sitta strewn field; (2) both have, within error, a 21Ne/26Al-based cosmic ray exposure age of approximately 20 Ma, identical to the reported ages of Almahata Sitta ureilites; (3) both exhibit hints of ureilitic Ar in the trapped component. We discuss a possible earlier irradiation phase for the two fragments of approximately 1020 Ma, visible only in cosmogenic 38Ar. We also discuss the approximately 3.8 Ga (4He) and approximately 4.6 Ga (40Ar) gas retention ages, measured in both chondritic fragments. These imply that the two chondrite fragments were incorporated into the ureilite host early in solar system evolution, and that the parent asteroid from which 2008 TC3 is derived has not experienced a large break-up event in the last 3.8 Ga. (Less)

The Atacama Desert has experienced a long and protracted period of hyperaridity that has resulted in what may be the most unusual biome on Earth, but the duration of this aridity is poorly constrained. We reconstructed aspects of the fluvial and geochemical history of this region using integrated landscape features (alluvial fans, hillslope soils, soil chemistry, river profiles) in the southern portion of the present desert. Topographic reconstructions of a large watershed (11,000 km 2 ) show deep incision and sediment removal between the late Miocene and the end of the Pliocene, and modest to negligible incision in post-Pliocene times. These changes in incision suggest an ∼50–280× reduction in river discharge, which should reflect corresponding changes in precipitation. Changes in the nature of hillslope soils in the Atacama Desert indicate that in the Pliocene or earlier, hillslopes were mantled with silicate-derived soil. This mantle was stripped off and locally deposited as alluvial fans (late Pliocene to early Pleistocene) that now block or otherwise cause a rearrangement of Pliocene and earlier river channels. Finally, the hillslopes have largely accreted a soil mantle of dust and salt since the apparent late Pliocene stripping, suggesting a decline in annual precipitation of at least 125 mm yr -1 or more (mean annual precipitation [MAP] is now -1 ). Embedded in the long post-Pliocene era of salt accumulation, there are a variety of features suggesting overland flow on hillslopes (rills, striped gravel deposits, piping, and water spouts) and large, infrequent storms that infiltrated gentle alluvial fans (due to the depth of salt-rich horizons). Despite evidence for episodes that punctuate the hyperaridity, the magnitude and duration of these pluvial events have been insufficient to remove the regional accumulations of sulfate, chloride, and nitrate. The late Pliocene cessation of many fluvial features is coincident with recent research on the tropical Pacific, which shows that the Pacific was in a permanent El Nino state until ca. 2.2 Ma, at which time sea-surface temperatures offshore of South America declined greatly relative to those of the western Pacific, in turn setting up the present El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate system. These observations indicate that the latest period of aridity has been prolonged and largely continuous, and it appears to have occurred in step with the onset of the ENSO climate system, beginning ∼2 m.y. ago.

The collection of approximately 3300 meteorites from the Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) area, Antarctica, is dominated by more than 2000 chondrites classified as either L5 or LL5. Based on concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, and 41 Ca in the metal and stone fraction of 16 QUE L5 or LL5 chondrites, we conclude that 13 meteorites belong to a single meteorite shower, QUE 90201, with a large preatmospheric size and a terrestrial age of 125 kyr. Members of this shower have properties typical of L (e.g., pyroxene composition) and LL chondrites (e.g., metal abundance and composition), as well as properties intermediate between the L and LL groups (e.g., olivine composition), and is thus best described as an L ⁄ LL5 chondrite. Based on comparison with model calculations, the measured radionuclide concentrations in the metal and stone fractions of QUE 90201 indicate irradiation in an object with a preatmospheric radius of approximately 150 cm, representing one of the largest chondrites known so far. Based on the abundance of small L5 and LL5 chondrites at QUE and their distinct mass distribution, we conclude that the QUE 90201 shower includes up to 2000 fragments with a total recovered mass of 60-70 kg

– The isotopic compositions of Sm and/or Gd of nine documented drill core samples of the Jilin H5 chondrite were determined to study the neutron capture records of individual meteorite samples. All the samples showed significant isotopic shifts of 150Sm/149Sm and/or 158Gd/157Gd corresponding to neutron fluences of (1.3–1.7) × 1015 n cm−2. Considering the short 4π irradiation age of 0.32 Ma during the second stage, the 2π irradiation of 7 Ma during the first stage is the main influence on the Sm and Gd isotopic shifts of the Jilin chondrite. Although a depth dependence of the neutron capture effects was expected from the isotopic variations of 150Sm/149Sm and 158Gd/157Gd in the Jilin chondrite core samples that were possibly drilled perpendicular to the surface of the large object with a radius of >10 m in the 2π-geometry, no clear evidence was observed in this study. The data from the combination of the isotopic shifts between Sm and Gd defined as eSm/eGd suggest that the neutrons produced in the 2π-geometry of the Jilin chondrite follow the similar energy spectra as the neutrons in lunar samples, although the present analytical quality is not enough to discuss a critical discussion for the thermalization of the neutron energy levels.

Decoupling the impacts of climate and tectonics on hillslope erosion rates is a challenging problem. Hillslope erosion rates are well known to respond to changes in hillslope boundary conditions (e.g. channel incision rates) through their dependence on soil thickness, and precipitation is an important control on soil formation. Surprisingly though, compilations of hillslope denudation rates suggest little precipitation sensitivity. To isolate the effects of precipitation and boundary condition, we measured rates of soil production from bedrock and described soils on hillslopes along a semi-arid to hyperarid precipitation gradient in northern Chile. In each climate zone, hillslopes with contrasting boundary conditions (actively incising channels versus non-eroding landforms) were studied. Channel incision rates, which ultimately drive hillslope erosion, varied with precipitation rather than tectonic setting throughout the study area. These precipitation-dependent incision rates are mirrored on the hillslopes, where erosion shifts from relatively fast and biologically-driven to extremely slow and salt-driven as precipitation decreases. Contrary to studies in humid regions, bedrock erosion rates increase with precipitation following a power law, from ∼1 m Ma−1 in the hyperarid region to ∼40 m Ma−1 in the semi-arid region. The effect of boundary condition on soil thickness was observed in all climate zones (thicker soils on hillslopes with stable boundaries compared to hillslopes bounded by active channels), but the difference in bedrock erosion rates between the hillslopes within a climate region (slower erosion rates on hillslopes with stable boundaries) decreased as precipitation decreased. The biotic-abiotic threshold also marks the precipitation rate below which bedrock erosion rates are no longer a function of soil thickness. Our work shows that hillslope processes become sensitive to precipitation as life disappears and the ability of the landscape to respond to tectonics decreases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We measured the concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl and 41 Ca in the metal and stone fractions of three large chondrite showers to determine their pre-atmospheric size. Large chondrites are characterized by substantial contributions of neutron-capture 41 Ca in the stone fraction (up to ∼2 dpm/gCa), low radionuclide concentrations in the metal fraction and high 10 Be(stone)/ 10 Be(metal) ratios. Based on the measured concentrations in comparison with calculated cosmogenic nuclide depth profiles, using a semi-empirical and a purely physical model, we conclude that these objects had pre-atmospheric radii ranging from ∼80 cm to >3 m. We conclude that the semi-empirical model is more reliable for spallogenic production rates in large objects, while the purely physical model is more reliable for neutron-capture products.

Two silicate-rich dust layers were found in the Dome Fuji ice core in East Antarctica, at Marine Isotope Stages 12 and 13. Morphologies, textures, and chemical compositions of constituent particles reveal that they are high-temperature melting products and are of extraterrestrial origin. Because similar layers were found ∼ 2000 km east of Dome Fuji, at EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica)-Dome C, particles must have rained down over a wide area 434 and 481 ka. The strewn fields occurred over an area of at least 3 × 106 km2. Chemical compositions of constituent phases and oxygen isotopic composition of olivines suggest that the upper dust layer was produced by a high-temperature interaction between silicate-rich melt and water vapor due to an impact explosion or an aerial burst of a chondritic meteoroid on the inland East Antarctic ice sheet. An estimated total mass of the impactor, on the basis of particle flux and distribution area, is at least 3 × 109 kg. A possible parent material of the lower dust layer is a fragment of friable primitive asteroid or comet. A hypervelocity impact of asteroidal/cometary material on the upper atmosphere and an explosion might have produced aggregates of sub-μm to μm-sized spherules. Total mass of the parent material of the lower layer must exceed 1 × 109 kg. The two extraterrestrial horizons, each a few millimeters in thickness, represent regional or global meteoritic events not identified previously in the Southern Hemisphere.

The isotopic compositions of Sm and Gd in twelve Martian meteorites, ALH 77005, ALH 84001, DaG 735, Dhofar 019, EET 79001, Lafayette, Los Angeles, Nakhla, SaU 005, Y 000593, Y 000749 and Zagami, were determined to quantify the neutron capture records of individual meteorite specimens. Seven of these twelve samples, ALH 84001, Y 000749, DaG 735, Dhofar 019, EET 79001, SaU 005 and Zagami, showed significant isotopic shifts of 150 Sm/ 149 Sm and/or 158 Gd/ 157 Gd corresponding to neutron fluences of (0.7–3.4) × 10 15 n cm − 2 . Among these seven meteorites, the neutron fluences of ALH 84001, Y 000749, and Dhofar 019 apparently correlated with their cosmic-ray exposure ages, indicating that most of the irradiation took place while the meteoroids were small bodies in space after the ejection from Mars. However, our results suggest an accumulation of their inherited irradiation occurred on Mars. On the other hand, the exposure histories of the other four meteorites (basaltic shergottites), DaG 735, EET 79001, SaU 005, and Zagami, cannot be explained as single- or multistage irradiations in space, or as a single irradiation on the Martian surface. The mixing between basaltic lava with a significantly irradiated Martian regolith is a reasonable interpretation of the excess neutron capture records observed in these four basaltic shergottites.

Cosmic ray produced 10Be (half-life = 1.36 × 106 yr), 26Al (7.05 × 105 yr), and 36Cl (3.01 × 105 yr) were measured in a depth profile of 19 carefully-ground samples from the glass-coated lunar surface rock 64455. The solar cosmic ray (SCR) produced 26Al and 36Cl in this rock are present in high concentrations, which in combination with the low observed erosion rate

We re-evaluated the cosmic-ray exposure history of the H36 chondrite shower Frontier Mountain (FRO) 90174, which previously was reported to have a simple exposure history, an irradiation time of about 7 Ma, and a pre-atmospheric radius of 80-100 cm (Welten et al. 2001). Here we measured the concentrations and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar in 8 aliquots of 6 additional fragments of this shower, and 10Be and 26Al in the stone fractions of seven fragments. The radionuclide concentrations in the stone fractions, combined with those in the metal fractions, confirm that all samples are fragments of the FRO 90174 shower. Four of the fragments contain solarwind- implanted noble gases with a solar 20Ne/22Ne ratio of ~12.0, indicating that FRO 90174 is a regolith breccia. The concentrations of solar gases and cosmogenic 21Ne in the samples analyzed by us and by Welten et al. (2001) overlap with those of the FRO H-chondrites from the 1984 season, suggesting that many of these samples are also part of the large FRO 90174 chondrite shower. The cosmogenic 21Ne concentrations in FRO 90174 show no simple correlation with 10Be and 26Al activities. We found 21Ne excesses between 0.3-1.1 x 10^(-8) cm3 STP/g in 6 of the 17 samples. Since excess 21Ne and trapped solar gases are not homogeneously distributed, i.e., we found in one fragment aliquots with and without excess 21Ne and solar 20Ne, we conclude that excess 21Ne is due to GCR irradiation of the regolith before compaction of the FRO 90174 object. Therefore, the chondrite shower FRO 90174 did not simply experience an exposure history, but some material was already irradiated at the surface of an asteroid leading to excess 21Ne. This excess 21Ne is correlated to implanted solar gases, clearly indicating that both processes occurred on the regolith.

Typical examples of cosmic ray irradiation effects in extraterrestrial materials have been introduced by two large iron meteorites, Campo del Cielo and Gibeon. The Gibeon meteorite is known for having the longest strewn field of all meteorites extending 400 km. Stable light noble gases were determined simultaneously by sensitive mass-spectrometers. Based on the contents of products determined, we have discussed an unique complex history of the meteorite. We could classify Gibeon meteorite as a mixture of two main sub groups. The members of the first group have a simple long irradiation history of 330 million years, which is similar to Campo del Cielo. On the other hand, those of the 2nd group are composed of the secondary products of various contents of noble gases showing irradiation records equivalent to an average of 20 million years. The reductions of noble gases were most probably due to a serious break up of the meteorite in space. The deep interior of the main body of Group 1 has been exposed by th...

Kalahari 008 and 009 are two lunar meteorites that were found close to each other in Botswana. Kalahari 008 is a typical lunar anorthositic breccia; Kalahari 009 a monomict breccia with basaltic composition and mineralogy. Based on minor and trace elements Kalahari 009 is classified as VLT (very-low-Ti) mare basalt with extremely low contents of incompatible elements, including the REE. The Lu–Hf data define an age of 4286 ± 95 Ma indicating that Kalahari 009 is one of the oldest known basalt samples from the Moon. It provides evidence for lunar basalt volcanism prior to 4.1 Ga (pre-Nectarian) and may represent the first sample from a cryptomare. The very radiogenic initial 176Hf/177Hf (eHf = +12.9 ± 4.6), the low REE, Th and Ti concentrations indicate that Kalahari 009 formed from re-melting of mantle material that had undergone strong incompatible trace element depletion early in lunar history. This unusually depleted composition points toward a hitherto unsampled basalt source region for the lunar interior that may represent a new depleted endmember source for low-Ti mare basalt volcanism. Apparently, the Moon became chemically very heterogeneous at an early stage in its history and different cumulate sources are responsible for the diverse mare basalt types. Evidence that Kalahari 008 and 009 may be paired includes the similar fayalite content of their olivine, the identical initial Hf isotope composition, the exceptionally low exposure ages of both rocks and the fact that they were found close to each other. Since cryptomaria are covered by highland ejecta, it is possible that these rocks are from the boundary area, where basalt deposits are covered by highland ejecta. The concentrations of cosmogenic radionuclides and trapped noble gases are unusually low in both rocks, although Kalahari 008 contains slightly higher concentrations. A likely reason for this difference is that Kalahari 008 is a polymict breccia containing a briefly exposed regolith, while Kalahari 009 is a monomict brecciated rock that may never have been at the surface of the Moon. Altogether, the compositions of Kalahari 008 and 009 permit new insight into early lunar evolution, as both meteorites sample lunar reservoirs hitherto unsampled by spacecraft missions. The very low Th and REE content of Kalahari 009 as well as the depletion in Sm and the lack of a KREEP-like signature in Kalahari 008 point to a possible source far from the influence of the Procellarum-KREEP Terrane, possibly the lunar farside.

We measured the concentrations and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar in 29 bulk samples from 11 different strewn field fragments of the large Jiddat al Harasis (JaH) 073 L6 chondrite shower, including 7 samples from known locations within the main mass. In addition, we measured the concentrations of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 41Ca in 10 samples. All fragments of this shower are characterized by low 10Be concentrations (7.6-12.8 dpm/kg), high 26Al/10Be ratios (3.55), large contributions of neutron capture 41Ca (200-1800 dpm/kgCa), low 3He/21Ne ratios (1.5-3.0), large variations in cosmogenic 21Ne (1.2-12) 10^(-8) cm^3 STP/g, and significant contributions of neutron-capture 36Ar. Stepwise heating experiments show that neutron-capture produced 36Ar is predominantly released between 1000-1200 °C. All these results are consistent with a first-stage exposure of ~65 Ma within ~20 cm of the surface of the L-chondrite parent body, followed by ejection of a 1.52 m large object, which was then delivered to Earth within about 0.5 and 0.7 Ma. The cosmogenic nuclide data in JaH 073 thus corroborate the trend that many of the large chondrites studied so far experienced a complex exposure history. The observed 3He/21Ne ratios of 2.53.0 in the most shielded samples (including those of the main mass) are lower than predicted by model calculations, but similar to the lowest values found in the large Gold Basin L-chondrite shower. The Bern plot, which gives a linear correlation for 3He/21Ne versus 22Ne/21Ne, is evidently not valid for very high shielding. Some of our measured 22Ne/21Ne ratios in JaH 073 are lower than 1.06, which is not well understood, but might be explained by loss of cosmogenic neon from shocked sodium-rich plagioclase during terrestrial weathering. The amount of trapped atmospheric argon in the JaH 073 fragments varies by almost two orders of magnitude and shows only a weak correlation with the size of the fragments, which range from 50 kg. Finally, low concentrations of radiogenic 4He and 40Ar indicate incomplete degassing

The concentrations of cosmogenic radionuclides and noble gases in Pitts (IAB) and Horse Creek (ungrouped) provide unambiguous evidence that both irons have a complex exposure history with a first-stage irradiation of 100-600 Myr under high shielding, followed by a second-stage exposure of ?1 Myr as small objects. The first-stage exposure ages of ~100 Myr for Horse Creek and ~600 Myr for Pitts are similar to cosmic-ray exposure ages of other iron meteorites, and most likely represent the Yarkovsky orbital drift times of irons from their parent bodies in the main asteroid belt to one of the nearby chaotic resonance zones. The short second-stage exposure ages indicate that collisional debris from recent impact events on their precursor objects was quickly delivered to Earth. The short delivery times suggests that the recent collision events occurred while the precursor objects of Horse Creek and Pitts were either very close to the chaotic resonance zones or already in Earthcrossing orbits. Since the cosmogenic noble gas records of Horse Creek and Pitts indicate a minimum radius of a few meters for the precursor objects, but do not exclude km-sized objects, we conclude that these irons may represent fragments of two near-Earth asteroids, 3103 Eger and 1986 DA, respectively. Finally, we used the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in Horse Creek, which contains 2.5 wt% Si, to test current model calculations for the production of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, and neonisotopes from iron, nickel, and silicon.

Early (>3 Gy) wetter climate conditions on Mars have been proposed, and it is thus likely that pedogenic processes have occurred there at some point in the past. Soil and rock chemistry of the Martian landing sites were evaluated to test the hypothesis that in situ aqueous alteration and downward movement of solutes have been among the processes that have transformed these portions of the Mars regolith. A geochemical mass balance shows that Martian soils at three landing sites have lost significant quantities of major rock-forming elements and have gained elements that are likely present as soluble ions. The loss of elements is interpreted to have occurred during an earlier stage(s) of weathering that may have been accompanied by the downward transport of weathering products, and the salts are interpreted to be emplaced later in a drier Mars history. Chemical differences exist among the sites, indicating regional differences in soil composition. Shallow soil profile excavations at Gusev crater are consistent with late stage downward migration of salts, implying the presence of small amounts of liquid water even in relatively recent Martian history. While the mechanisms for chemical weathering and salt additions on Mars remain unclear, the soil chemistry appears to record a decline in leaching efficiency. A deep sedimentary exposure at Endurance crater contains complex depth profiles of SO4, Cl, and Br, trends generally consistent with downward aqueous transport accompanied by drying. While no model for the origin of Martian soils can be fully constrained with the currently available data, a pedogenic origin is consistent with observed Martian geology and geochemistry, and provides a testable hypothesis that can be evaluated with present and future data from the Mars surface.

We measured concentrations of cosmogenic 41 Ca in 37 diogenites, including 8 falls and 29 Antarctic finds, using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The measured 41 Ca concentrations in falls range from 2.8 to 9.3 dpm/kg, those in Antarctic finds range from 1.6 to 28 dpm/kg. The 41 Ca concentrations in four of the falls agree within 10% with estimated saturation values based on spallation from Ti, Cr, Mn and the main target element, Fe. Four other diogenite falls and several Antarctic finds show elevated 41 Ca concentrations, which are attributed to capture of thermal neutrons on 40 Ca. The neutron-capture 41 Ca contributions range from 0.1 to 1.5 dpm/g Ca. Monte Carlo based model calculations show that contributions of neutron-capture 41 Ca are negligible ( 41 Ca in diogenites were used to constrain their pre-atmospheric radii. Many Antarctic diogenites show low 41 Ca concentrations, up to 60% below the saturation value determined for falls. From these low 41 Ca concentrations we derive terrestrial ages up to ∼135 kyr. We compare these terrestrial ages with those of other Antarctic achondrites and Antarctic chondrites and discuss the role of terrestrial weathering in limiting the lifetime of meteorites falling in different environments, i.e. Antarctic versus hot desert conditions.

The increased detection sensitivity offered by AMS has dramatically expanded the utility of 10 Be. As these applications become more sophisticated attention has focused on the accuracy of the 10 Be standards used to calibrate the AMS measurements. In recent years it has become apparent that there is a discrepancy between two of the most widely used 10 Be AMS standards, the ICN 10 Be standard and the NIST 10 Be standard. The ICN (ICN Chemical & Radioisotope Division) 10 Be AMS standard was calibrated by radioactive decay counting. Dilutions, ranging from 5 × 10 −13 to 3 × 10 −11 10 Be/Be, have been prepared and are extensively used in many AMS laboratories. The NIST 10 Be standard, prepared at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is calibrated by mass spectrometric isotope ratio measurements. To provide an independent calibration of the 10 Be standards we implanted a known number of 10 Be atoms in both Si detectors and Be foil targets. The 10 Be concentrations in these targets were measured by AMS. The results were compared with both the ICN and NIST AMS standards. Our 10 Be measurements indicate that the 10 Be/ 9 Be isotopic ratio of the ICN AMS standard, which is based on a 10 Be half-life of 1.5 × 10 6 yr, is 1.106 ± 0.012 times lower than the nominal value. Since the decay rate of the ICN standard is well determined, the decrease in 10 Be/ 9 Be ratio requires that the 10 Be half-life be reduced to (1.36 ± 0.07) × 10 6 yr. The quoted uncertainty includes a ±5% uncertainty in the activity measurement carried out by ICN. In a similar fashion, we determined that the value of the NIST 10 Be standard (SRM4325) is (2.79 ± 0.03) × 10 −11 10 Be/ 9 Be, within error of the certified value of (2.68 ± 0.14) × 10 −11 . The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) internal standards were also included in this study. We conclude that the 9 Be(n, γ) neutron cross section is 7.8 ± 0.23 mb, without taking into account the uncertainty in the neutron irradiation.

The soils of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile have long been known to contain large quantities of unusual salts, yet the processes that form these soils are not yet fully understood. We examined the morphology and geochemistry of soils on post-Miocene fans and stream terraces along a south-to-north (27° to 24° S) rainfall transect that spans the arid to hyperarid transition (21 to ∼2 mm rain y−1). Landform ages are ⩾ 2 My based on cosmogenic radionuclide concentrations in surface boulders, and Ar isotopes in interbedded volcanic ash deposits near the driest site indicate a maximum age of 2.1 My. A chemical mass balance analysis that explicitly accounts for atmospheric additions was used to quantify net changes in mass and volume as a function of rainfall. In the arid (21 mm rain y−1) soil, total mass loss to weathering of silicate alluvium and dust (−1030 kg m−2) is offset by net addition of salts (+170 kg m−2). The most hyperarid soil has accumulated 830 kg m−2 of atmospheric salts (including 260 kg sulfate m−2 and 90 kg chloride m−2), resulting in unusually high volumetric expansion (120%) for a soil of this age. The composition of both airborne particles and atmospheric deposition in passive traps indicates that the geochemistry of the driest soil reflects accumulated atmospheric influxes coupled with limited in-soil chemical transformation and loss. Long-term rates of atmospheric solute addition were derived from the ion inventories in the driest soil, divided by the landform age, and compared to measured contemporary rates. With decreasing rainfall, the soil salt inventories increase, and the retained salts are both more soluble and present at shallower depths. All soils generally exhibit vertical variation in their chemistry, suggesting slow and stochastic downward water movement, and greater climate variability over the past 2 My than is reflected in recent (∼100 y) rainfall averages. The geochemistry of these soils shows that the transition from arid to hyperarid rainfall levels marks a fundamental geochemical threshold: in wetter soils, the rate and character of chemical weathering results in net mass loss and associated volumetric collapse after 105 to 106 years, while continuous accumulation of atmospheric solutes in hyperarid soils over similar timescales results in dramatic volumetric expansion. The specific geochemistry of hyperarid soils is a function of atmospheric sources, and is expected to vary accordingly at other hyperarid sites. This work identifies key processes in hyperarid soil formation that are likely to be independent of location, and suggests that analogous processes may occur on Mars.

We report concentrations of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 41Ca in the metal phase of 26 ordinary chondrites from Frontier Mountain (FRO), Antarctica, as well as cosmogenic 14C in eight and noble gases in four bulk samples. Thirteen out of 14 selected H chondrites belong to two previously identified pairing groups, FRO 90001 and FRO 90174, with terrestrial ages of ~40 and ~100 kyr, respectively. The FRO 90174 shower is a heterogeneous H3-6 chondrite breccia that probably includes more than 300 individual fragments, explaining the high H/L chondrite ratio (3.8) at Frontier Mountain. The geographic distribution of 19 fragments of this shower constrains ice fluctuations over the past 50-100 kyr to less than 40 m, supporting the stability of the meteorite trap over the last glacial cycle. The second H-chondrite pairing group, FRO 90001, is much smaller and its geographic distribution is mainly controlled by wind-transport. Most L-chondrites are younger than 50 kyr, except for the FRO 93009/01172 pair, which has a terrestrial age of ~500 kyr. These two old L chondrites represent the only surviving members of a large shower with a similar preatmospheric radius (~80 cm) as the FRO 90174 shower. The find locations of these two paired L-chondrite fragments on opposite sides of Frontier Mountain confirm the general glaciological model in which the two ice flows passing both ends of the mountain are derived from the same source area on the plateau. The 50 FRO meteorites analyzed so far represent 21 different falls. The terrestrial ages range from 6 kyr to 500 kyr, supporting the earlier proposed concentration mechanism.

We have used cosmogenic nuclides to estimate limits on the surface exposure durations and erosion rates of alluvial fans and bedrock surfaces in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The oldest landforms we studied are extensive alluvial fans referred to as “Atacama gravels”. With the exception of samples collected in Antarctica, the cobbles collected on these alluvial surfaces have the lowest erosion rates of any samples, as determined by cosmogenic nuclides, analyzed to date. The oldest cobble has a model surface exposure age of 9 Myr, based on combined measurements of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, and 21Ne concentrations. Cobbles from the alluvial fans are eroding slower than the surrounding steep mountainous bedrock surfaces. Maximum erosion rates for cobbles on alluvial surfaces are uniformly

Currently, the absolute chronology of Martian rocks, deposits and events is based mainly on crater counting and remains highly imprecise with epoch boundary uncertainties in excess of 2 billion years. Answers to key questions concerning the comparative origin and evolution of Mars and Earth will not be forthcoming without a rigid Martian chronology, enabling the construction of a time scale comparable to Earth's. Priorities for exploration include calibration of the cratering rate, dating major volcanic and fluvial events and establishing chronology of the polar layered deposits. If extinct and/or extant life is discovered, the chronology of the biosphere will be of paramount importance. Many radiometric and cosmogenic techniques applicable on Earth and the Moon will apply to Mars after certain baselines (e.g. composition of the atmosphere, trace species, chemical and physical characteristics of Martian dust) are established. The high radiation regime may pose a problem for dosimetry-based techniques (e.g. luminescence). The unique isotopic composition of nitrogen in the Martian atmosphere may permit a Mars-specific chronometer for tracing the time-evolution of the atmosphere and of lithic phases with trapped atmospheric gases. Other Mars-specific chronometers include measurement of gas fluxes and accumulation of platinum group elements (PGE) in the regolith. Putting collected samples into geologic context is deemed essential, as is using multiple techniques on multiple samples. If in situ measurements are restricted to a single technique it must be shown to give consistent results on multiple samples, but in all cases, using two or more techniques (e.g. on the same lander) will reduce error. While there is no question that returned samples will yield the best ages, in situ techniques have the potential to be flown on multiple missions providing a larger data set and broader context in which to place the more accurate dates.

We developed and are testing a system for extracting in situ produced 14 C from quartz. 14 C is liberated from quartz matrix using step-wise heating during which time a spiked carrier gas consisting O 2 –CO–CO 2 –He is flowed through the high-temperature chamber continuously. The total 14 C background is reproducible and typically (2.3 ± 0.2) × 10 6 atoms, and the recovery is consistently greater than 90%. To validate the performance of the system and determine the blank level, we are using quartz samples taken from the Homestake mine (1600 m below the surface), South Dakota. To determine the 14 C release pattern and recovery, we used samples taken from the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica.