Aluminum-26 in Deep-Sea Sediment

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Reyss, J. L., Yokoyama, Y., Tanaka, S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1976
• Subjects: Greenland; Pacific
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.193.4258.1119; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.193.4258.1119

The activity of 26 Al in a North Pacific core was found to be 0.081 ± 0.046 disintegration per minute per kilogram of dry sediment, which corresponds to a 26 Al/ 10 Be ratio of 0.018 ± 0.011 (or 0.019 ± 0.012 when this ratio is corrected for decay). This ratio is in good agreement with that measured in Greenland ice, 0.017 ± 0.008. These ratios are also in agreement with the calculated values for the production of these isotopes by cosmic rays in the atmosphere: 0.013 ± 0.006. The contribution of cosmic dust bearing 26 Al seems small in comparison with the production of this nuclide in the atmosphere.