Isotopic Composition of Primordial Xenon

A large excess of Xe/sup 129/ and secondary anomalous abundances for many of the other isotopes of xenon were previously reported for the meteorite, Richardton. Similar secondary anomalies in xenon are reported for the meteorite Murray. For every isotope other than Xe/sup 129/, the ratio of the Murray percent abundance to the Richardton percent abundance was the same for both meteorites. The secondary anomalous xenon component was more abundant in Murray than in Richardton by a factor of 45. Mechanisms of this anomaly are discussed. An analysis by isotope dilution of all rare gases in the two stones is compared. (C.J. G.)