Support for the lunar cataclysm hypothesis from lunar meteorite impact melt ages

Citation
Ba. Cohen et al., Support for the lunar cataclysm hypothesis from lunar meteorite impact melt ages, SCIENCE, 290(5497), 2000, pp. 1754-1756
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary
Journal title
SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00368075 → ACNP
Volume
290
Issue
5497
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1754 - 1756
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-8075(200012)290:5497<1754:SFTLCH>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Lunar meteorites represent a more random sampling of Lunar material than th e Apollo or Luna collections and, as such, Lunar meteorite impact melt ages are the most important data in nearly 30 years with which to reexamine the Lunar cataclysm hypothesis. Within the lunar meteorite breccias MAC 88105, QUE 93069, DaG 262, and DaG 400, seven to nine different impact events are represented with Ar-40-Ar-39 ages between 2.76 and 3.92 billion years ago (Ca). The Lack of impact melt older than 3.92 Ca supports the concept of a short, intense period of bombardment in the Earth-moon system at similar to 3.9 Ca. This was an anomalous spike of impact activity on the otherwise dec lining impact-frequency curve.