Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
Simultaneous Analysis of Abundance and Isotopic Composition of Nitrogen and Carbon in Lunar Basalts
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Mortimer, Justin Verchovsky, Alexander B. Anand, Mahesh Gilmour, Iain |
| Copyright Year | 2014 |
| Abstract | Introduction: In recent years, the search for lunar volatiles has attracted renewed interest; new analyses of lunar glasses and apatite crystals suggest initial magma volatile contents (prior to degassing) many times higher than previously reported (e.g. [1]), some with terrestrial-like volatile abundances [2, 3]. While much of recent lunar volatile research has focused on analysis of water and its hydrogen isotopic composition (e.g. [4, 5]), less attention has been paid to the geochemistry of other volatile elements such as N, C and noble gases in lunar samples, especially in lunar basalts. Mare basalts provide an important window into the lunar interior, yielding data about the material from which the Earth-Moon system formed, and about the early geochemical evolution of the Moon. Postemplacement history of mare basalts also provides a record of cosmogenic volatiles produced at the surface of the Moon over time, in addition to the indigenous lunar volatile components locked into the basalts at crystallisation. In this new study, we combine stepped heating techniques at higher resolution than previous studies (e.g. [6, 7]), with simultaneous collection of data for more element and isotope systems (N and C (plus He, Ne, and Ar (see companion abstract at this meeting [8])) at each step, all from the same aliquot of lunar sample. Therefore, this new dataset represents a comprehensive, detailed inventory of volatiles in lunar basalts, building on and augmenting the results of previous studies. Samples: Five Apollo basalt samples (10017, 12040, 12064, 14053, and 70035) were selected for this study, representing a range of crystallisation ages, cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) ages, and compositional variations, and covering each of the Apollo missions (except Apollo 16). Methods: Sample preparation is outlined in a companion abstract [8]. Samples were analysed using the custom-built multiple static-mode mass spectrometer system 'Finesse' at the Open University [9] (also described in more detail in a companion abstract at this meeting [8]). N abundances (recorded as ng) were measured via calibration of the dedicated N mass spectrometer ion current at m/z = 28, and C abundances (recorded as ng of C) were calculated using the pressure of CO2 measured on a calibrated MKS Baratron TM |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/eposter/2529.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/pdf/2529.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
