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The Particle Track Record of the Lunar Surface

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The Moon

Part of the book series: International Astronomical Union/Union Astronomique Internationale ((IAUS,volume 47))

Abstract

Information about lunar surface history revealed by fossil particle tracks is summarized. Such tracks are the result of damage left in dielectric materials by highly ionizing charged particles including heavy solar and galactic cosmic ray nuclei, heavy nuclei recoiling from cosmic ray induced spallation reactions and induced- and spontaneous-fission fragments. From the distribution of cosmic ray and spallation tracks in the lunar rock, surface residence times of 1 to 30 million yr and rock erosion rates of 1 to 10 Å/yr have been determined. Particle tracks also record surface orientation and depth history of the rocks and contain information about ancient solar activity. The distribution of particle tracks in lunar soil is found to be consistent with a model which includes repeated excavation, layering and burial. With this model one core 12025 + 28 soil layer can be identified as unmixed and weakly irradiated; the others contain soil which has been better and better mixed and more and more irradiated.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. G. M. Comstock

    Present address: Centre de Spectrométrie de Masse du C.N.R.S., 91, Orsay, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, New York, USA

    G. M. Comstock

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  1. G. M. Comstock
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

    Stanley Keith Runcorn

  2. Chemistry Department, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, Calif., USA

    Harold C. Urey

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© 1972 The International Astronomical Union

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Comstock, G.M. (1972). The Particle Track Record of the Lunar Surface. In: Runcorn, S.K., Urey, H.C. (eds) The Moon. International Astronomical Union/Union Astronomique Internationale, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2861-5_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2861-5_30

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-2863-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-2861-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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