Using of 53 Mn and 10 Be Cosmogenic Isotopes for Geochronology and Monitoring of Cosmic Rays in Terrestrial Rocks

Abstract

The article discusses the methods of measuring the accumulation of radioactive isotopes 53Mn (with a half-life of T = 3.7 million years) and 10Be (T = 1.6 million years) in the iron-containing rocks. Knowledge of accumulation dynamics of these two isotopes would allow knowing both the time of shielding and flux of cosmic rays and also changes assessing the variations in the intensity of cosmic rays, the timing of glaciations, geological changes, and climatic processes in the world in retrospect of 0.1-10 million years. The main attendance paying to neutron - activation method of isotope analysis as low-cost both in money and time and more adapted for numerous sample processing. The advantages of isotope measurements in lunar craters are emphasized.