Abstract
Kaplan and Smith1 have observed that the lunar fines are significantly enriched in the heavier isotopes of carbon (13C) and sulphur (34S) with respect to the same isotopes in fine-grained basaltic rocks of the Apollo 11 landing site in the Mare Tranquillitatis. As a consequence they suggested that this effect may be caused by the removal of lighter isotopes (12C and 32S) from the unshielded lunar surface by the action of the solar wind. The mechanism of removal is thought to involve the conversion of 12C and 32S into 12CH4 and H232S, which are subsequently lost from the Moon. On the other hand, it has been pointed out at the Lunar Science Conference for Apollo 11 (January 5–8, 1970, Houston, Texas) that the solar wind may actually deposit isotopically heavier carbon on the lunar surface which then might account for the observed enrichment in the lunar fines.
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BERGER, R. Reaction of Carbon and Sulphur Isotopes in Apollo 11 Samples with Solar Hydrogen Atoms. Nature 226, 738–739 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/226738a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/226738a0
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