Allende meteorite: Isotopically anomalous xenon is accompanied by normal osmium

Abstract The 184Os/190Os ratio of six Allende meteorite samples was determined by neutron activation analysis. Four chromite concentrates gave a ratio differing from the terrestrial ratio by only -0.1 ± 0.4%, although they contained highly anomalous xenon enriched by up to 67% in 124Xe and 93% in 136Xe. In view of this result and the normal isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen in these fractions, it seems very unlikely that the xenon anomalies were produced in a supernova by the p and r processes. More probably, the xenon anomalies were established in the early solar system, by mass fractionation during trapping of noble gases in solids and by spontaneous fission of a superheavy element. Two other samples, containing osmium from the calcium,aluminum-rich inclusions, also gave an 184Os/190Os ratio within -0.1 ± 0.5% of the terrestrial value, although these inclusions show well-established anomalies in the light elements oxygen and magnesium, which appear to be due to pre-solar dust grains of distinctive nuclear history. Apparently the stellar source of the anomalous oxygen and magnesium did not synthesize heavier elements.