Double Beta-Decay of ⁸²Se and ¹³⁰Te

The isotopic compositions of xenon and krypton in the mineral kitkaite, NiTeSe, were measured to determine the amounts of radiogenic 82Kr and 130Xe produced by the double-beta decay of 82Se and 130Te, respectively. From the ratio of radiogenic 82Kr to radiogenic 130Xe in this mineral, it is concluded that the half-life of 130Te is larger than that of 82Se by a factor of 7.3 ± 0.9. If the age of the host rock, 2.00 × 109 y, is taken as an upper limit on the gas-retention age of the mineral, then values of (1.25 ± 0.08) × 1021y and (1.72 ± 0.19) × 1020y are obtained as upper limits on the half-lives of 130Te and 82Se respectively. A more realistic upper limit of T82 1 2 ≤ (1.4 ± 0.2) × 1020y is obtained from these results and those of a recent measurement here indicating T8130 1 2 ≤ 1 × 1021y