Uranium on the Moon: Global distribution and U/Th ratio

N. Yamashita; Nobuyuki Hasebe; R. C. Reedy; S. Kobayashi; Y. Karouji; M. Hareyama; E. Shibamura; M. N. Kobayashi; O. Okudaira; C. D'Uston; O. Gasnault; O. Forni; K. J. Kim

doi:10.1029/2010GL043061

Uranium on the Moon: Global distribution and U/Th ratio

N. Yamashita^*, Nobuyuki Hasebe, R. C. Reedy, S. Kobayashi, Y. Karouji, M. Hareyama, E. Shibamura, M. N. Kobayashi, O. Okudaira, C. D'Uston, O. Gasnault, O. Forni, K. J. Kim

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Kaguya Gamma-Ray Spectrometer uniquely identified uranium gamma-ray lines from the Moon with a superior energy resolution of ∼1%. A global lunar map of uranium distribution is derived for the first time. It was found that uranium abundances vary up to 2 ppm with an average of ∼0.3 ppm, while the average thorium abundance was ∼1.2 ppm. From these analyses, significant variation in U/Th ratio was found in the farside of the Moon that had not been reported by previous observations or in lunar materials. Our observations suggest that the lunar highland is not as uniform as has been long considered.

Original language	English
Article number	L10201
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	37
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL043061
Publication status	Published - 2010 May

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Geophysics

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abstract = "The Kaguya Gamma-Ray Spectrometer uniquely identified uranium gamma-ray lines from the Moon with a superior energy resolution of ∼1%. A global lunar map of uranium distribution is derived for the first time. It was found that uranium abundances vary up to 2 ppm with an average of ∼0.3 ppm, while the average thorium abundance was ∼1.2 ppm. From these analyses, significant variation in U/Th ratio was found in the farside of the Moon that had not been reported by previous observations or in lunar materials. Our observations suggest that the lunar highland is not as uniform as has been long considered.",

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AU - Yamashita, N.

AU - Hasebe, Nobuyuki

AU - Reedy, R. C.

AU - Kobayashi, S.

AU - Karouji, Y.

AU - Hareyama, M.

AU - Shibamura, E.

AU - Kobayashi, M. N.

AU - Okudaira, O.

AU - D'Uston, C.

AU - Gasnault, O.

AU - Forni, O.

AU - Kim, K. J.

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Uranium on the Moon: Global distribution and U/Th ratio

Abstract

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