Widespread ilmenite contributions to the surface water cycle in lunar Procellarum KREEP Terrane.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40817269.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-62914-4 and PMC identifier 12356940.
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Abstract
The role of widespread ilmenite in lunar mare regions in the abundance and diurnal variations of surficial OH/H<sub>2</sub>O remains controversial. Here, we report the water content and hydrogen isotopes in the rims of lunar ilmenites from Chang'e-5 soil samples using an ion microprobe. Ilmenite rims exhibit higher water contents (~730 - 3,700 ppm) and lower δD values (-884 to -482‰) than that of the lunar mantle, indicating a predominantly endogenic origin from solar-wind (SW) implantation. Our data further reveal that although ilmenite and silicate minerals overlap in the δD vs. H<sub>2</sub>O diagram, almost all ilmenites fall above those of silicates with SW-like δD values. This signature is consistent with the drastic difference in vesicle abundance between ilmenite and silicate minerals. Thus, the lower water content in ilmenite rims most likely reflects a faster dynamic equilibrium between SW-hydrogen implantation and outgassing than in other silicates. These findings suggest that ilmenite may play a critical role in the surface water cycle of lunar maria within the Procellarum KREEP Terrane. This is also crucial for assessing the in-situ resource utilization potential of the region, highlighting the need to reevaluate ilmenite as a viable resource for future lunar exploration.