Use of plutonium isotope activity ratios in dating recent sediments. [/sup 238/Pu//sup 239/Pu + /sup 240/Pu]

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5653421· OSTI ID:5653421

Beasley, T. M.

The majority of plutonium presently in the biosphere has come from the testing of nuclear devices. In the early 1950s, the Pu-238/239+240 activity ratio of fallout debris was > 0.04; in the more extensive test series of 1961 to 1962, the Pu-238/239+240 activity ratios were quite consistent at 0.02 to 0.03 and maximum fallout delivery occurred in mid-1963. A significant perturbation in Pu isotope activity ratios occurred in mid-1966 with the deposition of Pu-238 from the SNAP-9A reentry and burn-up. Recently deposited sediments have recorded these events and where accumulation rates are rapid (> 1 cm/y), changes in Pu isotope activity ratios can be used as a geochronological tool.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Newport (USA). Marine Science Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AT06-76EV70030
• OSTI ID: 5653421
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/70030-9; ON: DE82011082; TRN: 82-008994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SEDIMENTS
ISOTOPE DATING
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
ISOTOPE RATIO
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
SEAS
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AGE ESTIMATION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
WEAPONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
580500 - Oceanography- (1980-1989)
520300 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)