UPPER CONCENTRATION LIMITS FOR PU-239 TRACES IN SOME KTB-SAMPLES AND IN ONE HAWAIIAN LAVA

Trace quantities of plutonium are observed in the environment all over the world, and include both man-made Pu-238-242 and natural Pu-239 in uranium ores. Typical concentrations range from 10(-14) g Pu/g sample up to 10(-12) g Pu/g in pitchblende. We have determined some upper co ncentration limits for the plutonium in samples from KTB (Kontinentale s Tiefbohrprogramm, Germany) which are in the range of 10(-15) down to 3.10(-17) g Pu/g sample. In addition, we have investigated one sample of Hawaiian lava, with a limit of 5.10(-15). We could not confirm pre vious reports on the observation of plutonium in some Pacific lavas, n or do our results show any evidence for cold fusion neutrons producing plutonium in fluids of great depth in the crust.