Cosmic-Ray-Produced Silicon-32 in Nature

Abstract

S>Sponges from the floor of the Gulf of California were chemically treated to remove silica. Silicon-32 was determined by milking and by counting the P/sup 32/ daughter. The half life of Si/sup 32/ was determined to be 13 plus or minus 4 days. The average global production rate of Si/sup 32/ in the atmosphere was determined to be 1.0 x 10/sup -4/ atoms/cm/sup 2/ per sec. The distribution of Si/sup 32/ various depths in the oceans was calculated. (C.J.G.)