Pk. Kuroda et Wa. Myers, PU-244 FISSION XENON AND PRIMORDIAL XENON IN LUNAR-SAMPLES AND METEORITES, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 230(1-2), 1998, pp. 175-195
Xenon found in lunar samples is a binary mixture of Pu-244 fission xen
on and a trapped xenon, whose isotopic composition often shows a strik
ing resemblance to that of TAKAOKA'S-1 primitive xenon. The decay prod
uct of I-129 is conspicuously absent in lunar samples and this may be
attributed to the facts that (a) the half-life of I-129 is much shorte
r than that of Pu-244, and (b) the separation of xenon from plutonium
may take place easily, since the former is a gaseous element, while th
e latter is a refractory element. The separation of xenon from iodine
may not take place easily, however,since the former is a gaseous eleme
nt, while the latter is a volatile element. The isotopic compositions
of the trapped xenon released from ordinary chondrites and achondrites
resemble that of TAKAOKA's primitive xenon, which has been mass-fract
ionated in such a manner that the heavier isotopes are systematically
enriched relative to the lighter isotopes.