Cosmic-ray-produced 21Ne in terrestrial quartz: the neon inventory of Sierra Nevada quartz separates

doi:10.1016/0012-821X(94)90225-9

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Volume 125, Issues 1–4, July 1994, Pages 341-355

https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(94)90225-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

The study of cosmic-ray-produced radioactive and stable nuclides on the surface of the Earth can provide relevant geomorphological and glaciological information. At present, the cosmic ray production rates of stable ²¹Ne are not well known. This study attempts to remedy the situation by determining the production rate ratio of ²¹Ne and ²⁶Al, $P_{21} P_{26}$ , in quartz. ²⁶Al concentrations and P₂₆ rates have previously been investigated for quartz separates of Sierra Nevada rocks which were brought to the surface by glacial scouring during the Tioga period at the end of the last ice age [1]. We used splits of the same samples for our studies and found that Ne in these rocks represents a mixture of several components: trapped Ne, nucleogenic ²¹Ne and ²²Ne produced by (α,n) reactions in oxygen and fluorine, respectively, as well as cosmic-ray-produced Ne, which is the component of interest in this study. The trapped component was substantially lost in one sample (W86-12) by crushing and by a density separation of the grain sizes 38–90 μm and 90–125 μm, permitting the resolution of the in situ produced ²¹Ne into cosmic-ray spallation and (α,n) produced components and the determination of a lower limit to $P_{21} P_{26}$ . In a second sample (W86-8) one split contained small enough amounts of nucleogenic ²¹Ne to permit the determination of a reasonable upper limit to $P_{21} P_{26}$ . The two ratio determinations are consistent within error limits and the value adopted, 0.65 ± 0.11 (2σ), agrees with ratios observed in extraterrestrial matter. Apparently, $P_{21} P_{26}$ is thus not very sensitive to the neutron spectrum. However, the observed production rate ratio is substantially larger than theoretical estimates for Si targets, reflecting poorly known neutron excitation functions. The above $P_{21} P_{26}$ value, coupled to the observed ²⁶Al production rate [1], corresponds to a ²¹Ne production rate of P₂₁ = 21 atoms g⁻¹ a⁻¹ in quartz or to P₂₁ = 45 atoms (g Si)⁻¹ a⁻¹ (at sea level and high latitudes). This rate is based on an adopted exposure age of 11,000 yr for our quartz samples.

References (26)

M.D. Kurz
In situ production of terrestrial cosmogenic helium and some applications to geochronology
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta
(1986)
M.D. Kurz et al.
Cosmic ray exposure dating with in situ produced cosmogenic ³He: results from young Hawaiian lava flows
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1990)
M.G. Zreda et al.
Cosmogenic chlorine-36 production rates in terrestrial rocks
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1991)
D. Lal
Cosmic ray labeling of erosion surfaces: in situ nuclide production rates and erosion models
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1991)
S. Niedermann et al.
Mass spectrometric identification of cosmic-ray-produced neon in terrestrial rocks with multiple neon components
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1993)
C.P. Kohl et al.
Chemical isolation of quartz for measurement of in-situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta
(1992)
K. Nishiizumi et al.
Cosmic ray produced ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in Antarctic rocks: exposure and erosion history
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1991)
S. Niedermann et al.
Noble gases in lunar anorthositic rocks 60018 and 65315: Acquisition of terrestrial krypton and xenon indicating an irreversible adsorption process
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta
(1992)
Ph. Sarda et al.
Neon isotopes in submarine basalts
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
(1988)
J. Eikenberg et al.
UXe, UKr, and UPb systematics for dating uranium minerals and investigations of the production of nucleogenic neon and argon
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta
(1993)

K. Nishiizumi et al.

Cosmic ray production rates of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in quartz from glacially polished rocks

J. Geophys. Res.

(1989)

D. Lal

In situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes in terrestrial rocks

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

(1988)

H. Craig et al.

Cosmogenic ³He in terrestrial rocks: The summit lavas of Maui

Cited by (63)

The SPICE project: Calibrated cosmogenic 26Al production rates and cross-calibrated 26Al /10Be, 26Al/14C, and 26Al/21Ne ratios in quartz from the SP basalt flow, AZ, USA
2022, Quaternary Geochronology
The formally named SP lava flow is a quartz-, olivine- and pyroxene-bearing basalt flow that is preserved in the desert climate of northern Arizona, USA. The flow is independently dated with an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 72 ± 4 ka (2σ) and has undergone negligible erosion and/or burial, making its surface an ideal site for direct calibration of cosmogenic nuclide production rates. Production rates for cosmogenic ²⁶Al have been determined from SP flow quartz in this study and are combined with production rates for ¹⁰Be, ¹⁴C, and ²¹Ne (Fenton et al., 2019) to yield a suite of production rate ratios. The error-weighted mean, sea-level, high latitude (SLHL) total reference production rate of ²⁶Al is 25.8 ± 2.5 at/g/yr (2 $σ_{\overline{x}}$ ; standard error) using time-independent Lal (1991)/Stone (2000) (St) scaling factors. The St scaled spallogenic ²⁶Al rate is 25.0 ± 2.4 at/g/yr integrated over the past 72 ka. This rate overlaps within 2σ uncertainty with other St-scaled production rates in the literature. SLHL spallogenic ²⁶Al production rates in SPICE quartz (SP Flow Production-Rate Inter-Calibration Site for Cosmogenic-Nuclide Evaluations) are nominally lower if time-dependent Sf, Sa, and Lm scaling factors are used, yielding values of 22.9 ± 2.2 at/g/yr, 22.6 ± 2.2 at/g/yr, and 24.1 ± 2.2 at/g/yr (2 $σ_{\overline{x}}$ ), respectively. All ²⁶Al production rates in SP flow quartz overlap within 2σ uncertainty, regardless of time independent or time dependent scaling. Production rate ratios for cosmogenic ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al/¹⁴C, and ²⁶Al/²¹Ne are based on the total, local production rates of each cosmogenic nuclide, independent of scaling models, and have error-weighted means (±2 $σ_{\overline{x}}$ ; standard error) of 6.7 ± 0.6, 2.23 ± 0.20, and 1.51 ± 0.13, respectively. This study suggests that, similar to cosmogenic ²¹Ne and ¹⁰Be production rates in SP flow quartz, production rates of cosmogenic ²⁶Al in quartz do not significantly increase when integrated over 72 ka, a time span which includes the period of decreased magnetic strength from 20 to 50 ka.
Sediment generation and sediment routing systems from a quantitative provenance analysis perspective: Review, application and future development
2020, Earth-Science Reviews
Sediment Routing Systems (SRS) and Sediment Generation (SG) are two branches of sedimentary geology which are complementary, although their full integration remains incomplete. SRS connect all the steps of the journey of sediments from their formation to final deposition in relation to the denudation of sediment sources, the transfer of erosional products and their final deposition. SG is a branch of provenance analysis focussing on the quantification of the processes governing the production (Qs) and dispersal of sediments from known parent rocks, and the prediction of the amount and compositional-textural properties of sediments produced under given tectonic and climatic settings. The integration of the two disciplines is fundamental to tackle some of the open problems in sedimentary geology, including (i) the dynamics regulating the generation and release of sediments from upstream catchments to the floodplains, (ii) particle trajectories, (iii) residence time and mineralogical modifications in temporary storage environments (iv) sediment selective extraction and (v) the shredding of environmental signal propagation in both (vi) actualistic and deep-time SRS. I introduce all the elements which are necessary to both disciplines, with particular emphasis on quantitative provenance analysis (QPA). The SG approach is required to quantify lithological controls on Qs, and include it into the stream power law. QPA and the ‘Provenance Toolbox’ provide the compositional framework which is necessary for the characterisation of the erosional products. Both the advantages and limitations of each analytical tool are explored, and best practices for successful analytical workflows are discussed in light of a full integration into SRS research.
The SPICE project: Production rates of cosmogenic 21Ne, 10Be, and 14C in quartz from the 72 ka SP basalt flow, Arizona, USAu
2019, Quaternary Geochronology
The SP lava flow is a quartz-, olivine- and pyroxene-bearing basalt with an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 72 ± 4 ka (2σ). The flow is preserved in the desert climate of northern Arizona, USA. Its unweathered appearance and the lack of soil development indicate it has undergone negligible erosion and/or burial, making it an ideal site for direct calibration of cosmogenic nuclide production rates. Cross-calibrated production rates and production rate ratios for cosmogenic ²¹Ne, ¹⁰Be, and ¹⁴C have been determined from SP flow quartz. Production rate ratios for ²¹Ne/¹⁰Be, ²¹Ne/¹⁴C, and ¹⁴C/¹⁰Be are based on the total, local production rates of each cosmogenic nuclide, independent of scaling models, and have error-weighted means (±2σ uncertainty) of 4.44 ± 0.32, 1.43 ± 0.10, and 2.85 ± 0.21, respectively. Error-weighted mean, sea-level, high latitude (SLHL) total reference production rates of ²¹Ne, ¹⁰Be, and ¹⁴C are 17.0 ± 1.1, 3.84 ± 0.27, and 11.2 ± 0.6 at/g/yr (2σ), respectively, using time-independent Lal (1991)/Stone (2000) (St) scaling factors. St scaled spallogenic ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C rates are 3.73 ± 0.26 and 9.2 ± 0.6 at/g/yr, respectively. ²¹Ne and ¹⁰Be production rates are integrated over the past 72 ka, whereas ¹⁴C production rates are integrated over 25 ka, the time at which SP flow quartz has reached saturation with respect to ¹⁴C. These rates overlap within 2σ uncertainty with other St-scaled production rates in the literature, including the total reference SLHL ²¹Ne production rate of Niedermann (2000), which is revised in this paper to 16.8 ± 3.3 at/g/yr (2σ; St scaling) to reflect a recent change in age control at the Sierra Nevada sites. All SLHL production rates are lower if time-dependent Sf, Sa, and Lm scaling factors are used. For example, error-weighted mean, sea-level, high latitude (SLHL) total reference production rates for ¹⁰Be as calculated in the CREp online calculator range from 3.49 ± 0.23 to 3.74 ± 0.25 at/g/yr (2σ), using time-dependent Lm scaling factors. Commonly used SLHL ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C production rates in the literature were calibrated on surfaces that have been exposed to cosmic rays for less than 20 ka. Between 20 and 50 ka, the geomagnetic field is proposed to have been weaker than it is today. Production rates of cosmogenic nuclides increase during periods of weaker geomagnetic field strength. However, our study finds no measureable difference between St-scaled production rates of cosmogenic ²¹Ne and ¹⁰Be over the past 20 ka and St-scaled ²¹Ne and ¹⁰Be production rates over the past 72 ka. As such, the study suggests that ²¹Ne and ¹⁰Be production rates in quartz were not significantly greater during the proposed period of decreased magnetic strength from 20 to 50 ka.
Applying stable cosmogenic 21Ne to understand surface processes in deep geological time (107–108 yr)
2018, Earth and Planetary Science Letters
This work sets out to test the applicability of stable cosmogenic ²¹Ne for quantifying the rates of surface processes over time scales of 10⁷–10⁸ yr and the potential limitations and pitfalls associated with such time spans. First, we examine several processes in addition to in-situ production during exposure that affect the final measured concentration of ²¹Ne. We calculate the magnitude of ²¹Ne produced by interaction with secondary cosmic ray particles after burial (muogenic Ne) and by non-cosmogenic sources (nucleogenic Ne). We also evaluate the fraction of ²¹Ne lost through diffusion out of the quartz crystal as a function of time and temperature (depth). We then apply our calculations to ²¹Ne concentrations measured in sediments that were deposited along the northern passive margin of Gondwana during the late Precambrian, Cambrian, and Lower Cretaceous. In light of the measured concentrations in the sediment samples, we discuss the limitations imposed by our calculations and show that ²¹Ne concentrations measured in Lower Cretaceous samples can be interpreted in terms of surface exposure times or average erosion rates during the time of erosion and transport. In contrast, concentrations measured in Cambrian and Precambrian samples are limited in their use as surface process indicators although they still yield valuable geological information. We conclude that this novel application of in situ stable cosmogenic nuclides holds the potential as a tool for quantifying surface processes and understanding landscape evolution during the deep geological past and provides insight into macro-scale processes that have shaped Earth over the past hundreds of millions of years.
A multi-nuclide approach to constrain landscape evolution and past erosion rates in previously glaciated terrains
2015, Quaternary Geochronology
Cosmogenic nuclides are typically used to either constrain an exposure age, a burial age, or an erosion rate. Constraining the landscape history and past erosion rates in previously glaciated terrains is, however, notoriously difficult because it involves a large number of unknowns. The potential use of cosmogenic nuclides in landscapes with a complex history of exposure and erosion is therefore often quite limited. Here, we present a novel multi-nuclide approach to study the landscape evolution and past erosion rates in terrains with a complex exposure history, particularly focusing on regions that were repeatedly covered by glaciers or ice sheets during the Quaternary. The approach, based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique, focuses on mapping the range of landscape histories that are consistent with a given set of measured cosmogenic nuclide concentrations. A fundamental assumption of the model approach is that the exposure history at the site/location can be divided into two distinct regimes: i) interglacial periods characterized by zero shielding due to overlying ice and a uniform interglacial erosion rate, and ii) glacial periods characterized by 100% shielding and a uniform glacial erosion rate. We incorporate the exposure history in the model framework by applying a threshold value to the global marine benthic δ¹⁸O record and include the threshold value as a free model parameter, hereby taking into account global changes in climate. However, any available information on the glacial-interglacial history at the sampling location, in particular the timing of the last deglaciation event, is readily incorporated in the model to constrain the inverse problem. Based on the MCMC technique, the model delineates the most likely exposure history, including the glacial and interglacial erosion rates, which, in turn, makes it possible to reconstruct an exhumation history at the site. We apply the model to two landscape scenarios based on synthetic data and two landscape scenarios based on paired ¹⁰Be/²⁶Al data from West Greenland, which makes it possible to quantify the denudation rate at these locations. The model framework, which currently incorporates any combination of the following nuclides ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, ¹⁴C, and ²¹Ne, is highly flexible and can be adapted to many different landscape settings. The model framework may also be used in combination with physics-based landscape evolution models to predict nuclide concentrations at different locations in the landscape. This may help validate the landscape models via comparison to measured nuclide concentrations or to devise new effective sampling strategies.
Interlaboratory comparison of cosmogenic 21Ne in quartz
2015, Quaternary Geochronology
We performed an interlaboratory comparison study with the aim to determine the accuracy of cosmogenic ²¹Ne measurements in quartz. CREU-1 is a natural quartz standard prepared from amalgamated vein clasts which were crushed, thoroughly mixed, and sieved into 125–250 μm and 250–500 μm size fractions. 50 aliquots of CREU-1 were analyzed by five laboratories employing six different noble gas mass spectrometers. The released gas contained a mixture of 16–30% atmospheric and 70–84% non-atmospheric (predominantly cosmogenic) ²¹Ne, defining a linear array on the ²²Ne/²⁰Ne-²¹Ne/²⁰Ne three isotope diagram with a slope of 1.108 ± 0.014. The internal reproducibility of the measurements is in good agreement with the formal analytical precision for all participating labs. The external reproducibility of the ²¹Ne concentrations between labs, however, is significantly overdispersed with respect to the reported analytical precision. We report an average reference concentration for CREU-1 of 348 ± 10 × 10⁶ at [²¹Ne]/g[SiO₂], and suggest that the 7.1% (2σ) overdispersion of our measurements may be representative of the current accuracy of cosmogenic ²¹Ne in quartz. CREU-1 was tied to CRONUS-A, which is a second reference material prepared from a sample of Antarctic sandstone. We propose a reference value of 320 ± 11 × 10⁶ at/g for CRONUS-A. The CREU-1 and CRONUS-A intercalibration materials may be used to improve the consistency of cosmogenic ²¹Ne to the level of the analytical precision.

View all citing articles on Scopus

¹: Present address: GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg A50, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany.

²: Present address: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

View full text

Article preview

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Abstract

References (26)

In situ production of terrestrial cosmogenic helium and some applications to geochronology

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Cosmic ray exposure dating with in situ produced cosmogenic ³He: results from young Hawaiian lava flows

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Cosmogenic chlorine-36 production rates in terrestrial rocks

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Cosmic ray labeling of erosion surfaces: in situ nuclide production rates and erosion models

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Mass spectrometric identification of cosmic-ray-produced neon in terrestrial rocks with multiple neon components

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Chemical isolation of quartz for measurement of in-situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Cosmic ray produced ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in Antarctic rocks: exposure and erosion history

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Noble gases in lunar anorthositic rocks 60018 and 65315: Acquisition of terrestrial krypton and xenon indicating an irreversible adsorption process

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Neon isotopes in submarine basalts

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

UXe, UKr, and UPb systematics for dating uranium minerals and investigations of the production of nucleogenic neon and argon

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Cosmic ray production rates of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in quartz from glacially polished rocks

J. Geophys. Res.

In situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes in terrestrial rocks

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

Cosmogenic ³He in terrestrial rocks: The summit lavas of Maui

Cited by (63)

The SPICE project: Calibrated cosmogenic <sup>26</sup>Al production rates and cross-calibrated <sup>26</sup>Al /<sup>10</sup>Be, <sup>26</sup>Al/<sup>14</sup>C, and <sup>26</sup>Al/<sup>21</sup>Ne ratios in quartz from the SP basalt flow, AZ, USA

Sediment generation and sediment routing systems from a quantitative provenance analysis perspective: Review, application and future development

The SPICE project: Production rates of cosmogenic <sup>21</sup>Ne, <sup>10</sup>Be, and <sup>14</sup>C in quartz from the 72 ka SP basalt flow, Arizona, USAu

Applying stable cosmogenic <sup>21</sup>Ne to understand surface processes in deep geological time (10<sup>7</sup>–10<sup>8</sup> yr)

A multi-nuclide approach to constrain landscape evolution and past erosion rates in previously glaciated terrains

Interlaboratory comparison of cosmogenic <sup>21</sup>Ne in quartz

Cosmic-ray-produced 21Ne in terrestrial quartz: the neon inventory of Sierra Nevada quartz separates

Abstract

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Cosmic ray production rates of 10Be and 26Al in quartz from glacially polished rocks

J. Geophys. Res.

In situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes in terrestrial rocks

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

Cosmogenic 3He in terrestrial rocks: The summit lavas of Maui

Cosmic-ray-produced ²¹Ne in terrestrial quartz: the neon inventory of Sierra Nevada quartz separates

Cosmic ray production rates of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al in quartz from glacially polished rocks

Cosmogenic ³He in terrestrial rocks: The summit lavas of Maui