Cosmogenic radionuclides in the Sołtmany (L6) meteorite

Cosmogenic radionuclides were measured in two specimens of the Sołtmany chondrite (L6) that fell on April 30, 2011. The first fragment (154.9 g) was measured 12 days after the fall and the second piece (120 g), 53 days after the fall. Both fragments were measured by means of non-destructive gamma ray spectroscopy. The first specimen was examined with an ultra-low background high purity germanium (HPGe) detector in a deep underground laboratory. A standard low-background HPGe detector was used to examine the second fragment in a ground level laboratory. Twelve cosmogenic nuclides were detected in the activity range of 0.030 m・Bq g^–1 until 1.5 m・Bq g^–1 Their activities place constraints on the exposure history of the meteorite and reflect the effect of solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays during the solar maximum. On the activities of expected radionuclides ⁶⁰ Co (< 0.0075 m・Bq g^–1) and ⁴⁴ Ti (< 0.023 m・Bq g^–1) only upper limits could be given. Sołtmany is part of a group of only 14 meteorites where ⁵² Mn (5.591 d half life) could be determined.