Pk. Kuroda et Wa. Myers, PU-244 DATING .10. INITIAL ABUNDANCE OF I-129 IN CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 173(2), 1993, pp. 229-237
Excess radiogenic Xe-129, which should have been produced by the beta-
decay of the extinct radionuclide I-129, is conspicuously missing in t
he acid residues isolated from various carbonaceous chondrites, in whi
ch Pu-244 fission xenon is highly enriched. Results from recent studie
s indicate that either a) the last supernova exploded more than 150 to
200 million years prior to the time the carbonaceous chondrites began
to retain their Pu-244 fission xenon or b) fine-grained interstellar
diamond crystals in the carboaceous chondrites played the role of a fi
ssion product catcher for a quantitative retention of Pu-244 fission x
enon, while allowing excess Xe-129 from the weak beta-decay of I-129 t
o escape from the meteorites.