Neutron-induced fission of uranium: a dating method for lunar surface material

Volcanic glasses collected on the rim of Shorty Crater in the Apollo 17 area were formed 3.63 x 10(9) years ago. The amounts of xenon-136 produced by neutron-induced fission of uranium-235 indicate that the glasses resided on the lunar surface for about 38 million years before they were deeply buried. The glass spherules were reexcavated by the impact that formed Shorty Crater 17 million years ago, and remained undisturbed until they were collected.