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PubMed · 15459384

Extinct 244Pu in ancient zircons.

Grenville Turner·T Mark Harrison·Greg Holland·Stephen J Mojzsis·Jamie Gilmour
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Abstract

We have found evidence, in the form of fissiogenic xenon isotopes, for in situ decay of 244Pu in individual 4.1- to 4.2-billion-year-old zircons from the Jack Hills region of Western Australia. Because of its short half-life, 82 million years, 244Pu was extinct within 600 million years of Earth's formation. Detrital zircons are the only known relics to have survived from this period, and a study of their Pu geochemistry will allow us to date ancient metamorphic events and determine the terrestrial Pu/U ratio for comparison with the solar ratio.

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CrystallizationEarth, PlanetEvolution, PlanetaryGeologic SedimentsHalf-LifeIsotopesLeadMass SpectrometryPlutoniumSilicatesTimeUraniumWestern AustraliaXenon IsotopesZirconiumJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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Grenville Turner, T Mark Harrison, Greg Holland, Stephen J Mojzsis, Jamie Gilmour. 2004-10-01. Extinct 244Pu in ancient zircons.. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1101014

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