Determination of 58Fe/54Fe isotope ratios in Chang’E-5 lunar regolith by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Traditionally, the determination of isotope ratios is analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) method, which is usually destructive to sample (i.e., sample dissolution). Furthermore, the ⁵⁸Fe abundance (0.282%) is generally rather low relative to other Fe isotopes, therefore, ⁵⁸Fe/⁵⁴Fe results is not reported in the routine measurement for MS methods. Given the importance of investigating a possible genetic relationship between the stable isotope composition of the Moon and the Earth, here, we firstly report the isotope ratios of ⁵⁸Fe/⁵⁴Fe in the Chang’E-5 (CE-5) scooped bulk lunar sample. In this work, the ⁵⁸Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) which is essentially distinguished and a potentially complementary advantage for MS in the determination of stable isotope ratios. These data obtained for the CE-5 lunar sample were also compared with those of terrestrial sample GBW07105.