Determination of manganese-53 by neutron activation and other miscellaneous studies on lunar dust

A highly sensitive determination of spallogenic (53)Mn (T = 2 x 106 yr) was accomplished in 0.99 g of lunar soil. The chemical yield of Mn is determined with "carrier-free" (52)Mn tracer. During a 23-day reactor irradiation the (53)Mn is transformed into (54)Mn (T = 300 days). Appropriate chemical recycling was done by ion exchange and distillation. Interferences of the (n,p) and the (n,2n) nuclear reactions were carefully studied. A (53)Mn disintegration rate of 30.3 +/- 5.5 dpm/kg results. This extremely economic method is proposed for further detailed lunar profile measurements. The Re content, which is of possible cosmochemical interest, was determined to be 11 ppb. Appropriate separation techniques were used. The rather weak and complex thermoluminescence properties made a more basic study advisable. Thermogravimetric analysis, mass spectroscopy, and Moessbauer spectroscopy were applied. The presence of ilmenite, metallic Fe etc., and of an unidentified Fe(2+)-containing compound was deduced. Natural thermoluminescence could not be proved with certainty in our surface sample. However, the complexity of the artificial thermoluminescence demands better defined mineral fractions. The fission track method was used to measure U distribution in glass spherules etc.     

Electron-microprobe analyses of phases in lunar samples

In fine (type A) and coarse-grained (type B) Apollo 11 lunar volcanic rocks clinopyroxenes are extremely inhomogeneous. Ferrosilite-rich areas in type B rocks have decomposed to submicron vermicular intergrowths of clinopyroxene-fayalite-cristobalite(?). Plagioclase has normal zoning with K(2)O up to 0.5 percent in rims. Ilmenites are relatively homogeneous with low mgo(0.1 to 2 percent) and high zro(2) (up to 0.26 percent). Metal phase in troilite has <0.02 percent nickel. The breccias (type C) and fines (type D) containing 0.09 to 10.52 percent Ti0(2.) Rare metal fragments with meteorite-like compositions occur in breccias and fines. Gross similarities between euctites and Apollo 11 volcanic rocks indiacate similar evolutionary environments, but detailed mineralogical differences suggest either separate origins or if eucrites are lunar, chemical inhomogeneities on the lunar surface.     

Restoration of photographs by neutron activation

Badly faded or stained photographs or radiographs, negative or positive, can be restored by use of neutron activation and autoradiography, provided that at least a trace of image silver is present and that the picture is relatively free of halogens and other silver.     

Chemical analyses of lunar samples 10017, 10072, and 10084

A crystalline rock, a vesicular rock, and a dust sample returned by Apollo 11 were chemically analyzed by several methods. The compositions of these samples are unlike that of any known rock or meteorite.     

Neutron activation analysis of milligram quantifies of lunar rocks and soils

A neuttron activation scheme for determining 25 elements in lunar samples weighing 20 milligrams is described and applied to a suite of Apollo 11 lunar materials. Concentrations of titanium, chromium, scandium, tantalum, hafnium, and rare earths are higher than in avercage basalt, whereas cobalt, nickel, and copper are lower. Chemical variations show groupings of elements possibly associated with the major phases, pyroxene, plagioclase, and ilmenite. The high concentration of "refractory oxides" and low volatile content implies that the raw material for the Apollo 11 samples was condensed from the primitive solar nebula at high temperatures.     

Hydrogen mapping of the lunar south pole using the LRO neutron detector experiment LEND

Hydrogen has been inferred to occur in enhanced concentrations within permanently shadowed regions and, hence, the coldest areas of the lunar poles. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission was designed to detect hydrogen-bearing volatiles directly. Neutron flux measurements of the Moon's south polar region from the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft were used to select the optimal impact site for LCROSS. LEND data show several regions where the epithermal neutron flux from the surface is suppressed, which is indicative of enhanced hydrogen content. These regions are not spatially coincident with permanently shadowed regions of the Moon. The LCROSS impact site inside the Cabeus crater demonstrates the highest hydrogen concentration in the lunar south polar region, corresponding to an estimated content of 0.5 to 4.0% water ice by weight, depending on the thickness of any overlying dry regolith layer. The distribution of hydrogen across the region is consistent with buried water ice from cometary impacts, hydrogen implantation from the solar wind, and/or other as yet unknown sources.     

Mercury content of common foods determined by neutron activation analysis

The mercury contents in samples of flour, sugar, nonfat dry milk, potatoes, hamburger, chicken breast, shrimp, liver, eggs, and whole milk were determined by neutron activation analysis. The mercury was separated by anion exchange chromatography and precipitated as the sulfide. The mercury concentrations for all these foods were below 50 parts per billion.     

Interplanetary dust: trace element analysis of individual particles by neutron activation

Although micrometeorites of cometary origin are thought to be the dominant component of interplanetary dust, it has never been possible to positively identify such micrometer-sized particles. Two such particles have been identified as definitely micrometeorites since their abundances of volatile and nonvolatile trace elements closely match those of primitive solar system material.     

Technical comment on "Hydrogen mapping of the lunar South Pole using the LRO neutron detector experiment LEND"

Based on a study of high-energy epithermal (HEE) neutrons in data from the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the background from HEE neutrons is larger than initially estimated. Claims by Mitrofanov et al. (Reports, 22 October 2010, p. 483) of enhanced hydrogen abundance in sunlit portions of the lunar south pole and quantitative hydrogen concentration values in south pole permanently shaded regions are therefore insufficiently supported.     

Response to comment on "Hydrogen mapping of the lunar South Pole using the LRO neutron detector experiment LEND"

Critical comments from Lawrence et al. are considered on the capability of the collimated neutron telescope Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) for mapping lunar epithermal neutrons, as presented in our paper. We present two different analyses to show that our previous estimated count rates are valid and support the conclusions of that paper.     

Bistatic-radar detection of lunar scattering centers with lunar orbiter I

Continuous-wave signals transmitted from Lunar Orbiter I have been received on Earth after they have been reflected from the surface of the moon. The frequency spectrum of the reflected signals is used to locate discrete, heterogeneous, scattering centers on the lunar surface. The scattering centers are probably distinguished from the surrounding terrain by a higher surface reflectivity. Continuous-wave bistatic radar could provide an important new method for the study and mapping of planetary surfaces.     

Thermoluminescence of lunar samples

Appreciable natural thermoluminescence with glow curve peaks at about 350 degrees centigrade for lunar fines and breccias and above 400 degrees centigrade for crystalline rocks has been recognized in lunar samples. Plagioclase has been identified as the principal carrier of thermoluminescence, and the diference in peak temperatures indicates compositional or structural differences between the feldspars of the different rock types. The present thermoluminescence in the lunar samples is probably the result of a dynamic equilibrium between acquisition from radiation and loss in the lunar thermal environment. A progressive change in the glow curves of core samples with depth below the surface suggests the use of thermoluminescence disequilibrium to detect surfaces buried by recent surface activity, and it also indicates that the lunar diurnal temperature variation penetrates to at least 10.5 centimeters.     

Mechanism of lunar polarization

A theoretical model to explain the negative polarization of moonlight at small lunar phase angles is developed. The model is based on the polarization of light in the diffraction region bordering the geometric shadow of an opaque dielectric obstacle.     

Viscosity of lunar lavas

The viscosity of a synthetic silicate liquid with the composition of a lunar rock has been determined experimentally and found to be lower than that of any previously studied volcanic rock on earth. Course Crystallinity can be a feature of rapidly cooled surface lavas.     

Instrumental conditioning of lemon sharks

The sedimentation constant of an infectious component in ribonucleic acid preparations from foot-and-mouth disease virus has been determined by density-gradient centrifugation. A sedimentation constant of 37 Svedberg units (S(t)) was obtained. On the assumption that the relation between the molecular weight and the sedimentation constant found by Gierer is applicable to our system as well, a value of 3.1 x 10(6) was calculated for the molecular weight of the infectious component.     

Magnetic properties of lunar samples

The magnetic properties of samples of rock, fines, and magnetic separate from the fines from Apollo 11 have been measured. Native iron, or possibly nickel-iron, of submicroscopic particle size is the most important constituent, with minor contributions from ilmenite, paramagnetic iron minerals, and other iron-titanium oxides. The remanent magnetization of a sample of the micro-breccia rapidly acquires a viscous magnetization and does not appear to have a significant stable remanence. The crystalline sample has a weak natural remanence showing some stability.     

Cathodoluminescence properties of lunar rocks

Calcic plagioclase is the dominant luminescent mineral in crystalline rocks and breccias. Minor amounts of cristobalite and tridymite are also luminescent, as are trace grains of potassium feldspar. Two types of intergrowths of potassium feldspar with a silica phase, possibly quartz, were found in the breccias. Luminescence spectra of plagioclase show significant similarities to, and differences from, spectra of terrestrial plagioclase. Shock damage in the breccias is reflected in systematic changes in the plagioclase spectra, thus giving evidence of disordering on the angstrom scale. Associated extinction patterns seen between crossed Nicol prisms give evidence of disordering on the micrometer scale.     

Crystallography of some lunar plagioclases

Crystals of calcic bytownite from type B rocks have space group I1 with c approximately 14 angstroms. Bytownite crystals from type A rocks are more sodic and have space group C1, c approximately 7 angstroms. Cell parameters of eight bulk feldspar separates from crystalline rocks indicate that the range of angle gamma is about 23 times the standard error of measurement, and its value might be useful for estimation of composition. Cell parameters of seven ilmenites are close to those of pure FeTiO(3).