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Re: Missing H-3
Jo:
In various Geology courses we run into this and use the results for a variety of measurements. You are looking at a preferential distillation of light water with a boiling point of 100C and THO and TTO with marginally higher boiling points due to the marginally heavier molecule.
I have not heard of any Tritium measurements that used in geology, but
16O/18O ratios are used in ice cores, carbonate shells, and some others to determine paleo-ocean temperatures. The theory being the 18O is left behind as the lighter fractions are preferentially evaporated depending on the temperature. This will show up in precipitation and is mirrored in the concetration in carbonate shells.
Its been about 22 years since I studied this, but if you have access to a Geology department they could probably give you the rate equations for calculating the partition coefficients.
Zack Clayton
zclayton@epa.state.oh.us
Ohio EPA
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