CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

The determination of small time differences in the formation of planetary objects

Citation

Papanastassiou, Dimitri Anastassios (1970) The determination of small time differences in the formation of planetary objects. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/D5S4-JN64. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03092009-160704

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document.

A new solid source single focusing, sector magnet mass spectrometer was developed with a programmable magnetic field analyzer of stability [...]. Digital data are obtained during a completely automatic sequence and include the real time at which an intensity measurement is made. An on line computer analyses the data and returns the results to the operator throughout a run. The precision obtained in measuring isotopic ratios is increased by an order of magnitude over conventional similar instruments and is documented for the strontium isotopes. The [...] ratio is measured to better than [...] 0.007% over the extended time of the experiments.

Ca-rich achondritic meteorites having a total spread of 0.2% in [...] were studied and appear to define an identical initial abundance of 0.698983 [...] 0.000032. The samples lie on a well defined isochron with slope 0.0642 [...] 0.0034, corresponding to an age of 4.47 [...] 0.24 x [...] years. The maximum deviation of data points from the isochron is 6 x [...] and shows that these samples were formed over a time interval of 1.6 x [...] years if they were derived from an environment of solar Rb/Sr abundance. The Angra dos Reis achondrite has the distinctly lower inital Sr composition of 0.69884 [...] 0.00004 and is, therefore, derived from more primitive material than any other meteorite measured. Angra dos Reis may have formed 5.4 x [...] years earlier than the other achondrites (from a solar Rb/Sr environment). The Angra dos Reis initial Sr isotopic composition should be considered as the best estimate of the primordial Sr isotopic abundance in the solar system.

Measurements on the chondrite Guarena yield an age 4.56 [...] 0.08 x [...] years and precise Sr initial composition of 0.69995 [...] 0.00015. This is evidence for either a late formation of Guarena or a metamorphic event taking place 74 x [...] years after the time of formation of the Ca-rich achondrites. These measurements may yield a time index for the classification of meteorites.

Measurements on Apollo XI lunar samples are presented and discussed.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:basaltic achondrites; initial 87Sr/86Sr chronometer; meteorite chronology; solar system chronology
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Wasserburg, Gerald J.
Thesis Committee:
  • Wasserburg, Gerald J. (chair)
  • Burnett, Donald S.
  • Lauritsen, Thomas
  • Fowler, William A.
Defense Date:1 December 1969
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-03092009-160704
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03092009-160704
DOI:10.7907/D5S4-JN64
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:908
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:09 Mar 2009
Last Modified:21 Dec 2019 01:40

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF (Papanastassiou_da_1970.pdf) - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

5MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page