Cosmogenic Radionuclides and Age Dating

The most famous cosmogenic radionuclide is C (t j = 5730 a), which is produced by the interaction of cosmic ray neutrons via an (n,p) reaction with nitrogen [ N(n, p) C], whereas the radioactive decay of C takes place by decay to form the stable N isotope. C is the most important cosmogenic radionuclide for dating (see Section 9.7.5) in archaeology and can be analyzed using isotope sensitive accelerator mass spectrometry. Extremely small isotope ratios C/ C = 10 in nature can be measured by means of AMS.  

A number of extinct radionuclides ( B, °Be, C, Na, A1, C1, S, Ar, Ca) have been identified in meteorites or lunar materials. These radionuclides can be also used in isotope 

Other applications of inorganic mass spectrometry in planetary sciences were reviewed by de Laeter, including the analysis of the planets Mars (Viking spacecraft mission), Venus (Pioneer mission) and Jupiter (Galileo mission), where small molecules were discovered on the planets, and extraterrestrial materials from comets, Moon and meteorites.32 

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