Isotopic study of neutron capture effects on Sm and Gd in chondrites

Hiroshi Hidaka*, Mitsuru Ebihara, Shigekazu Yoneda

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Isotopic compositions of Sm and Gd in eight chondrites (Mezo-Madaras, Parnallee, Otis, Suizhou, Zhaodong, Allende, Bruderheim and Y-74191) were measured to study neutron capture effects due to the interaction of cosmic rays with planetary materials in space. The anti-correlation of 149Sm/152Sm with 150Sm/152Sm and of 157Gd/160Gd with 158Gd/160Gd in the meteorites provides evidence for neutron capture effects in these chondrites. Isotopic deviations observed in the eight chondrites are ε(149Sm) = -0.35 to -1.93, ε(150Sm) = +0.87 to +4.35, ε(157Gd) = -2.82 to -1.21 and ε(158Gd) = +0.33 to +1.66, which correspond to thermal neutron fluences of (1.03-5.17) X 1015 n cm-2. The combination of isotopic data from Sm-Gd in this study and Ne-Kr from the literature provides information on the secondary produced thermal (<0.1 eV), epi-thermal (30-300 eV) and fast (>5 MeV) neutron fluences for chondrites, and it is used here to estimate the neutron energy distribution for six L- and LL-chondrites. From the difference of distribution of thermal, epi-thermal and fast neutron fluences in individual chondrites, the depth of the samples inside the meteoroid is discussed. In Allende, the isotopic anomalies observed may be due not only to neutron capture reactions but also to additions of r-process nuclides of Sm and Gd. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-37
Number of pages9
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume180
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chondrites
  • Gadolinium
  • Isotope ratios
  • Neutrons
  • Samarium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

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