KArMars : a breadboard model for in situ absolute geochronology based on the K-Ar method using UV-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectroscopy - Archive ouverte HAL Access content directly
Journal Articles Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Year : 2016

KArMars : a breadboard model for in situ absolute geochronology based on the K-Ar method using UV-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectroscopy

Abstract

We present a breadboard prototype to perform in situ dating applicable to planetary exploration. Based on the K-Ar dating method and using instruments inspired by flight-proven analytical components, 'KArMars' ablated a geological sample under high vacuum with a quadrupled ultraviolet (UV at 266 nm) Nd:YAG laser. During ablation, the K content of the target material was given by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and the released Ar-40 was measured with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Because K was measured as a concentration and Ar-40 as a count of atoms, these values were converted using the ablated mass given by the product of the density and the ablated volume. The uncertainties of the age measurement were < 15%. The quality of the K-Ar measurements was enhanced by the advantages of UV laser ablation such as the minimisation of thermal effects on argon diffusion. This work demonstrates that a specialised instrument inspired by this set-up could provide in situ absolute geochronology with sufficient precision for scientific investigations, particularly where the crater density counting provides higher uncertainties on Mars.
No file

Dates and versions

hal-01422696 , version 1 (26-12-2016)

Identifiers

  • HAL Id : hal-01422696 , version 1

Cite

D. Devismes, P.y Gillot, J.C. Lefevre, C. Boukari, F. Rocard, et al.. KArMars : a breadboard model for in situ absolute geochronology based on the K-Ar method using UV-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectroscopy. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 2016, 40 ((4):), pp.517-532 (IF 2,885). ⟨hal-01422696⟩
115 View
0 Download

Share

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More