Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen in some Apollo 14 and 15 lunar samples

Irving Friedman; Kenneth G. Hardcastle; Jim D. Gleason

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USGS · 70162067

Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen in some Apollo 14 and 15 lunar samples

Irving Friedman·Kenneth G. Hardcastle·Jim D. Gleason

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Abstract

Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen in some Apollo 14 and 15 lunar samples was determined by use of a newly constructed combustion line that yields low blanks for CO 2 and H 2 . The results from combustion of fines and breccia from Apollo 14 lunar samples and of fines, breccia, and basalt from Apollo 15 were compared with data obtained by heating samples in vacuo to over 1,350°C. The two techniques gave similar results. Total carbon in the fines ranged from 51 to 110 p/m with a C 13 of +12 to -8 per mil (parts per thousand) PDB. The breccias contain 22 to 50p/mcarbon with a C 13 of -21 to -25 per mil. The crystalline rock (sample 15555) has a carbon content of about 7 p/m and a C 13 of -28 per mil. The total hydrogen in the fines ranges from 66 to 120 p/m with a (D/H) X 10 -6 of 39 to 90. The breccias contain 8 to 38p/mH 2 with a (D/H) X 10 -6 of 103 to 144. The crystalline rock contains about 2 p/m H 2 with a (D/H) X 10 -6 of about 140. Arguments are presented to show that the contamination by earth materials is not as serious a problem as has been proposed by previous authors.

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Irving Friedman, Kenneth G. Hardcastle, Jim D. Gleason. 1974. Isotopic composition of carbon and hydrogen in some Apollo 14 and 15 lunar samples. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70162067

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