Terrestrial manganese-53 — A new monitor of Earth surface processes
Abstract
We report the first systematic study of the terrestrial cosmogenic radionuclide manganese-53 ( T1/2 = 3.7 Ma) measured in thirteen samples from nine dolerite surfaces in the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The terrestrial manganese-53 concentrations correlate well with cosmic-ray-produced helium-3 and neon-21 concentrations in the same samples, implying that the manganese-53 is produced continuously in situ and retained quantitatively over millions of years. The terrestrial manganese-53 production rate determination normalized to iron (the only important target element) and to high-latitude and sealevel yields a value of P53 = 103 ± 11 atoms yr - 1 (g Fe) - 1 . This is consistent with the theoretical value of 120 ± 18 atoms yr - 1 (g Fe) - 1 obtained from modeling calculations. Our results show that the manganese-53 concentrations in bulk terrestrial rocks can be used to monitor Earth surface processes on time-scales exceeding 10 My.
- Publication:
-
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.09.016
- Bibcode:
- 2006E&PSL.251..334S