Science
Journal Article

Extinct $^{244}Pu$ in Ancient Zircons

Grenville Turner, T. Mark Harrison, Greg Holland, Stephen J. Mojzsis and Jamie Gilmour
Science
New Series, Vol. 306, No. 5693 (Oct. 1, 2004), pp. 89-91
Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3839259
Page Count: 3

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Topics: Xenon, Earth, Ratios, Mantle, Cosmic microwave background radiation, Isotopes, Solar systems, Meteorites
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Extinct $^{244}Pu$ in Ancient Zircons
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Abstract

We have found evidence, in the form of fissiogenic xenon isotopes, for in situ decay of $^{244}Pu$ 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, $^{244}Pu$ 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.
Science © 2004 American Association for the Advancement of Science