Preservation of primordial signatures of water in highly-shocked ancient lunar rocks

Spurred by the discovery of water in lunar volcanic glasses about a decade ago, the accessory mineral apatite became the primary target to investigate the abundance and source of lunar water. This is due to its ability to contain significant amounts of OH in its structure, along with the widespread presence of apatite in lunar rocks. There is a general understanding that crustal cumulate rocks of the lunar magnesian (Mg) suite are better candidates for recording the original isotopic compositions of volatile elements in their parental melts compared to eruptive rocks, such as mare basalts. Consequently, water-bearing minerals in Mg-suite rocks are thought to be ideal candidates for discerning the primary hydrogen isotopic composition of water in the lunar interior. Mg-suite rocks and most other Apollo samples that were collected at the lunar surface display variable degrees of shock-deformation. In this study, we have investigated seven Apollo 17 Mg-suite samples that include troctolite, gabbro and norite lithologies, in order to understand if shock processes affected the water abundances and/or H isotopic composition of apatite. The measured water contents in apatite grains range from 31 to 964 ppm, with associated δD values varying between −535 ±134‰ and +147 ±194‰(2σ). Considering the full dataset, there appears to be no correlation between H2O and δD of apatite and the level of shock each apatite grain has experienced. However, the lowest δD was recorded by individual, water-poor (∼100 ppm H2O), regardless of the complexity of the shock-induced nanostructures, there appears to be no evidence of water-loss or alteration in their δD. The weighted average δD value of 24 such water-rich apatites is −192 ±71‰, and, of all 36 analyzed spots is −209 ±47‰, indistinguishable from that of other KREEPy lunar lithologies or the Earth’s deep mantle. Despite experiencing variable degrees of shock-deformation at a later stage in lunar history, water-rich apatite in some of the earliest-formed lunar crustal material appears to retain the original isotopic signature of H in the Moon

The chlorine isotopic composition of the Moon: Insights from melt inclusions

The Moon exhibits a heavier chlorine (Cl) isotopic composition compared to the Earth. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this difference, based mostly on analyses of apatite in lunar samples complemented by bulk-rock data. The earliest hypothesis argued for Cl isotope fractionation during the degassing of anhydrous basaltic magmas on the Moon. Subsequently, other hypotheses emerged linking Cl isotope fractionation on the Moon with the degassing during the crystallization of the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO). Currently, a variant of the LMO degassing model involving mixing between two end-member components, defined by early-formed cumulates, from which mare magmas were subsequently derived, and a KREEP component, which formed towards the end of the LMO crystallization, seems to reconcile some existing Cl isotope data on lunar samples. To further ascertain the history of Cl in the Moon and to investigate any evolution of Cl during magma crystallization and emplacement events, which could help resolve the chlorine isotopic variation between the Earth and the Moon, we analysed the Cl abundance and its isotopic composition in 36 olivine- and pyroxene-hosted melt inclusions (MI) in five Apollo basalts (10020, 12004, 12040, 14072 and 15016). Olivine-hosted MI have an average of 3.3 ± 1.4 ppm Cl. Higher Cl abundances (11.9 ppm on average) are measured for pyroxene-hosted MI, consistent with their formation at later stages in the crystallization of their parental melt compared to olivines. Chlorine isotopic composition (δ37) of MI in the five Apollo basalts have weighted averages of +12 ± 2.4‰ and +10.1 ± 3.2‰ for olivine- and pyroxene-hosted MI, respectively, which are statistically indistinguishable. These isotopic compositions are also similar to those measured in apatite in these lunar basalts, with the exception of sample 14072, which is known to have a distinct petrogenetic history compared to other mare basalts. Based on our dataset, we conclude that, post-MI-entrapment, no significant Cl isotopic fractionation occurred during the crystallization and subsequent eruption of the parent magma and that Cl isotopic composition of MI and apatite primarily reflect the signature of the source region of these lunar basalts. Our findings are compatible with the hypothesis that in the majority of the cases the heavy Cl isotopic signature of the Moon was acquired during the earliest stages of LMO evolution. Interestingly, MI data from 14072 suggests that Apollo 14 lunar basalts might be an exception and may have experienced post-crystallization processes, possibly metasomatism, resulting in additional Cl isotopic fractionation recorded by apatite but not melt inclusions

Le rapport isotopique de l'hydrogène dans le Système Solaire interne : A la recherche des sources physico-chimiques de l'eau planétaire

Current dynamical models of Solar System formation and geochemical models agree on a likely chondritic origin for the terrestrial water. Indeed, primitive meteorites, called chondrites, have undergone an aqueous alteration process on their parent bodies. Moreover, these meteorites are one of the considered sources for the existence of water in lunar minerals. This thesis lies on hydrogen isotopic ratios and water contents measured using NanoSIMS in the carbonaceous chondrite Paris and lunar soils from the Apollo missions. Chondrules in Paris meteorite seem to have registered a water source distinct from the one of the parent body aqueous alteration. For the Moon, water retained in soils is majority formed by implantation of the solar wind hydrogen.Les modèles dynamiques actuels de formation du Système Solaire et les modèles géochimiques s’accordent sur une probable origine chondritique de l’eau terrestre. En effet, les météorites primitives, appelées chondrites ont subi un phénomène d’altération aqueuse sur leurs corps parents. De même, ces météorites sont une des sources envisagées à la présence d’eau dans les minéraux lunaires. Cette thèse s’appuie sur des mesures NanoSIMS des rapports isotopiques de l’hydrogène et des teneurs en eau dans la chondrite carbonée Paris et les échantillons de sols lunaires provenant d’Apollo 16 et 17. Les chondres de la météorite Paris semblent avoir enregistré une source d’eau distincte à l’eau d’altération du corps parent. En ce qui concerne la Lune, l’eau contenue dans les sols est majoritairement formée par l’implantation de l’hydrogène du vent solaire

Al Huwaysah 010: The most reduced brachinite, so far

Al Huwaysah 010 is an ungrouped achondrite meteorite, recently referred to as abrachinite-like meteorite. This meteorite, showing a fine-grained assemblage of low-Ca pyroxene and opaque phases, is strongly reduced in comparison to other reduced brachinites. The occurrence of some tiny plates of graphite and oldhamite in this meteorite suggests that a partial melt residue has experienced a further reduction process. Olivine, the most abundant phase, is compositionally homogeneous (Fo83.3) as well as the clinopyroxene (En45.5Fs10.8Wo43.7) and the plagioclase (Ab69.5). Orthopyroxene (En85.4Fs13.9Wo0.7) also occurs but only in a fine intergrowth. Other accessory phases are Fe metal grains (Ni-free or Cr-bearing Fe-Ni alloy), troilite, chlorapatite, pentlandite (as inclusions in chromite). The sample shows two different closure temperatures: the highest (≈900°C) is determined via the olivine–chromite intercrystalline geothermometer and the lowest temperature (≈520°C) is determined via the pyroxene-based intracrystalline geothermometer. These temperatures may represent, respectively, the closure temperature associated with the formation and a subsequent impact event excavating the sample from the parental body. The visible to near-infrared (VNIR)reflectance spectra of Al Huwaysah 010 exhibit low reflectance, consistent with the presence of darkening components, and weak absorptions indicative of olivine and pyroxene. Comparing the spectral parameters of Al Huwaysah 010 to potential parent bodies characterized by olivine–pyroxene mineralogy, we find that it falls within the field previously attributed to the SIII type asteroids. These results lead us to classify the Al Huwaysah 010 meteorite as the most reduced brachinite, whose VNIR spectral features show strong affinities with those of SIII asteroids