The exposure history of the Pitts meteorite

Physics

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

In a continuation of the investigation of the exposure history of the Pitts meteorite, concentrations of36Cl,39Ar, and the stable He, Ne, and Ar isotopes have been measured. The36Cl and39Ar activities, extrapolated to the time of fall, were (13.7 ± 1.8)dpm/kg and (23.4 ± 2)dpm/kg, resp. The ratio of36Cl/39Ar is thus only about one-half the expected value and indicates a recent (<350 000 yr ago) increase in the effective radiation flux. The abundance pattern of the stable rare gas isotopes is rather normal for an iron meteorite and, with the exception of the36Ar/38Ar ratio, indicates an exposure age of 20-60 Ma. Detailed consideration shows the data to be consistent with a sudden increase in radiation flux between 150 000 and 300 000 yr ago, probably resulting from a secondary break-up. It is shown that space erosion is not a satisfactory alternative explanation. Finally, the effect of the postulated exposure history on the36Ar/38Ar ratio is considered and shown to be consistent with the observed value.

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