Applications of neutron activation method for 53Mn in meteoritic iron

Abstract A highly sensitive determination of 53 Mn by a neutron activation method which was proposed by H. Millard (1965) was examined in detail. A reference source of 53 Mn was extracted from an iron meteorite and the activity was standardized using X-ray and gamma counters. The cross-section and the interferences due to the Mn(n, 2n) and Fe(n,p) were studied under several different irradiation conditions. Appropriate chemical process before and after the irradiation was studied. Some applications of this method, especially the examination of local distibutions of 53 Mn in iron and stone meteorites, were performed. The 53 Mn content in an iron target bombarded by a high energy proton was determined in the presence of 54 Mn. An artificial method was proposed for the preparation of a 53 Mn source essentially free from 54 Mn.