Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00529
Extinct Pu-244 in ancient zircons: a new window on the missing years of Earth history.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor G Turner, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Gilmour, The Victoria University of Manchester, Earth Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Upper Atmos Process & Geospace
- Planetary science
- Properties Of Earth Materials
- Mantle & Core Processes
- Abstract:
- The only known physical remains of the first 600 million years of Earth history are microscopic detrital zircon crystals found in ancient metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. We have recently discovered the first evidence of a now extinct isotope of plutonium (Pu-244, half-life 82 Ma) in a few of these zircon crystals from Western Australia. We will follow up this discovery by carrying out a detailed study of xenon isotopes from the spontaneous fission of plutonium and uranium in a large number of individual zircons, ranging in age from 3.8 to 4.4 billion years. By comparing our analyses with uranium-lead age information, abundances of rare earth elements, and oxygen isotope ratios, we will investigate the geochemical behaviour of plutonium in early crust forming processes and the implications for the chemical evolution of the Earth's earliest crust, hydrosphere and atmosphere. We will investigate the thermal release characteristics of the fission xenon in relation to uranium-lead age information to quantify xenon loss due to radiation damage in the zircon. We will use the results to determine the initial ratio of plutonium to uranium of the Earth, an important parameter in models of Earth evolution. The work is only possible because of the existence in Manchester of a unique instrument; RELAX (Refrigerator Enhanced Laser Analyser for Xenon), which is two orders of magnitude more sensitive than conventional noble gas mass spectrometers and capable of analysing samples of only a few thousand atoms. The work forms a unique part of an international project to investigate these minute relics of Earth's earliest crust.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00529
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £106,500
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £62,878 | £3,094 | £11,604 | £28,923 |
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