Table

Date

4.

Average Annual Americium Values

24lam x 1076 atoms/SCM

2414m/239pu atom ratio

1963

5.92

0.0011

1964

2.68

0.0012

1965

1.91

0.0023

1966

1.00

0.0025

1967

0.62

0.0027

1968

0.49

0.0012

1969

0.33

0.0014

1970

0.27

0.0007

266

indicates that ingrowth
in 1967 with an apparent half-life of 1.6 years. This
atmosphere. From
from decay of 241py ig a negligible source of 24lam in the
the injections of
1967-1970, the 241am/239Pu atom ratio decreased because
.
plutonium contained relatively smaller quantities of americium

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

V. Hamilton of the
Thanks are given ta SSgt Thomas W. Nibarger and Howard
separating and purifying
Chemistry Section of McClellan Central Laboratory for
Special thanks are given to
the plutonium samples reported in this study.
this manuscript.
Mrs. Marcene Beckinger for her help in the preparation of

267

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