Exposure history of separated phases from the Kapoeta meteorite

Abstract

The cosmogenic radionuclides, 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 53Mn were measured in selected clasts and matrix samples from the howardite Kapoeta. Previous measurements of cosmogenic 21Ne indicate higher cosmic-ray exposure ages for bulk samples than for some separated clasts or mineral separates. A possible interpretation for this difference in apparent exposure ages is a complex recent exposure history for Kapoeta. In this scenario some constituents are exposed to cosmic rays in a 2π geometry as part of a larger body immediately preceding its 4π exposure in a smaller body. To test this scenario we measured cosmogenic radionuclides in several clasts from Kapoeta. These measurements are consistent with a simple single-stage 4π exposure history during which the entire inventory of cosmogenic radionuclides was produced. Taken together, these data are most consistent with a single-stage 4π exposure lasting ∼ 3 Ma. This scenario is nevertheless consistent with models in which the exposure of some constituents of Kapoeta to energetic particles occurred at an earlier time, as is indicated by 21Ne measurements. However, from our data we conclude that insubstantial quantities of cosmogenic radionuclides were inherited from this earlier irradiation; this earlier exposure to energetic particles must have predated the recent exposure by at least ∼ 10 Ma to allow for the decay of the long half-life cosmogenic radionuclides.