Radiochemische Untersuchungen von Prozessen auf der Mondoberfläche

Abstract

After a general short survey of results of lunar investigations, our own contributions are reviewed. It is shown, that volatile trace elements are considerably enriched on surfaces of grains of the lunar regolith. Non volatile trace elements as well as major elements show no surface enrichment. The observed enrichment is due to evaporation and condensation processes initiated by impacting meteorites and micrometeorites, and also by solar heating of the surface of the moon. The concentrations of volatile (e.g. Zn, Cd) and siderophile (e.g. Au, Co) trace elements are distinctly higher in soils as compared to basalts. The following sources are recognized for this fact: Meteorites, micrometeorites and evaporation from the interior of the moon. The contribution of the individual mechanisms could be quantified by mixing model calculations. Heating experiments permitted the deduction of relative volatilities of elements and/or compounds in lunar samples.