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  • 40Ar-39Ar In-Situ Dating of the Lunar Surface

    Paper ID

    5725

    author

    • Juergen Burfeindt

    company

    OHB System AG - Munich

    country

    Germany

    year

    2010

    abstract

    The time scale of any geologic process determines its very nature. Therefore, one of the highest-priority science goals of planetary exploration is elucidating the absolute chronology like internal differentiation processes or the surface evolution by volcanism and impact cratering. Radioisotope dating of the Apollo samples enabled to link impact crater counting to absolute chronology, not only for the moon but also for other terrestrial planets (Jessberger et al. 1974, Turner 1977, Hiesinger et al. 2000, Neukum et al. 2001, Stöffler and Ryder 2001, Hiesinger and Head 2006). In situ radiometric dating of rocks and coarse fines at landing sites on the moon could contribute to test the cataclysm hypothesis, to determine the age of the South Pole Aitken basin, or to date very young basalts (1.2Ga) south of the Aristarchus Plateau, which likely mark the end of active volcanism on the Moon (Hiesinger at. all 2000, Hiesinger and Head 2006). However, to date no autonomous instrument for the in-situ dating of planetary surfaces – though of vital scientific interest – has been developed. Particularly promising seems 40Ar-39Ar dating of neutron-activated samples, which is one of the most reliable radioisotope methods to date impact metamorphosed rocks and thus constrain lunar, asteroidal or terrestrial cratering histories (Jessberger et al. 1974, Turner 1977, Trieloff et al. 1998, Hiesinger et al. 2000, Neukum et al. 2001, Stöffler and Ryder 2001, Hiesinger and Head 2006, Korochantseva et al. 2007). Dating basalt with the 40Ar-39Ar method generally is even more straightforward. Based on a recent DLR funded study (Hofmann et al. 2008, Burfeindt et al. 2009, Trieloff et al. 2009), the development of a compact in-situ radiometric dating instrument appears to be feasible. 252Cf (half live 2.6yr) would serve as a neutron source, while sample collection and transport between the neutron irradiation unit and the analysis unit would be performed robotically. After irradiation, the noble gases He, Ne and Ar from samples would be extracted by stepwise heating in a furnace and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The measurement of the isotopic compositions of argon (40Ar from in situ decay of 40K) will allow determining the impact metamorphism and crystallization ages and also the surface exposure ages. In addition, an easily to be attached -spectrometer will determine the concentrations of a number of minor elements. We will give an overview of the actual status of our investigations of the concept design of our radiometric dating instrument.