History of the Apollo 17 deep drill string during the past few million years

Measurements of the cosmogenic radionuclides 22-Na, 26-Al and 53-Mn in the Apollo 17 deep drill string 70002-70009 have shown that this core sample was taken in an area of considerable recent surface activity. Measurements of 22-Na indicate that the core had not been significantly altered during its collection and subsequent handling, while measurements of the 26-Al and 53-Mn showed a very substantial excess in these isotopes in the top 25 cm and a depletion below about 50 cm. The analysis of the data indicates that a crater excavation occurred to a depth of 50 to 60 cm at the site of the deep drill string no longer that 0.5 m.y. ago, and probably 0.3 m.y. ago. Since that time, the crater has filled to a depth of about 25 cm with near-surface material which contains high concentrations of 26-Al and 53-Mn. This recent activity at the site of the Apollo 17 drill string places firm time constraints on the models developed by other investigators which describe the history of this site.