Iodine and Uranium in Ultrabasic Rocks and Carbonatites

Author

Victor J. Becker Jr.
Jane Hanisch Bennett
Oliver Manuel, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

A series of ultrabasic rocks and carbonatites were analyzed by neutron activation for iodine and uranium. The uranium data are compared with earlier data on the uranium content of possible mantle material. The high uranium content of the carbonatites, 0.80-8.0 ppm, indicates that these may make a sizeable contribution to the average terrestrial heat flow. The iodine and uranium data are compared with the iodine and uranium contents of stone meteorites and with the xenon decay products of extinct ¹²⁹I and ²⁴⁴Pu in the meteorites. The concentrations of these decay products in the atmosphere are used to show that the earth began to retain these gaseous products as early as the eurite achondrites.

Recommended Citation

V. J. Becker et al., "Iodine and Uranium in Ultrabasic Rocks and Carbonatites," Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 4, pp. 357 - 362, Elsevier, Jul 1968.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(68)90063-0

Department(s)

Chemistry

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0012-821X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1968 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 1968