Diffusion of Au/Pd in Iron Sulfide

Currently, our knowledge of the age of the Solar System is based upon radiometric dating systems similar to carbon dating. Although the timing of cosmic changes is important, it does not create a clear image of the processes that occurred in this formation time. But, by constraining different isotopic systems that correspond to different physical processes, a more vivid image of the geochemical and physical processes that occurred can be created. In order to create this timeline of temperature, we set up a laboratory and performed diffusion experiments to constrain the closure temperature of isotopic systems in iron meteorites. In these experiments, we measured the diffusion of Au/Pd into iron sulfide at 1 atm pressure and a range of temperatures. The experiments were analyzed using Rutherford Back-Scattering (RBS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. From these experiments, we were able to analyze diffusion of gold and palladium into iron sulfide after different amounts of annealing. The experimental results in conjunction with the previously measured ages of phases in meteorites help create a clearer image of the temperature and thus the processes occurring during planet formation.