Lunar meteorite proves 4 billion year old Moon crust was water rich

A recent study has discovered that more than four billion years ago, the early lunar crust was far more water rich than previously thought. The revelation came from the analysis of a lunar meteorite. Western University researchers found water bearing apatite mineral in a sample of the Moon's early crust.

"The discovery of apatite in the Moon's early crust for the first time is incredibly exciting – as we can finally start to piece together this unknown stage of lunar history," said Tara Hayden, a cosmochemist in Western's Department of Earth Sciences, in a . "We find the Moon's early crust was richer in water than we expected, and its volatile stable isotopes reveal an even more complex history than we knew before," she added.

Examination of the sample Lunar meteorites are crucial in deepening scientists' understanding of the Moon's evolution. They complement the insights from the Apollo missions, which only covered a limited portion of the lunar surface. In this study, the team looked into the mineral apatite, which is known to harbor volatile elements within its structure.

As per the official release, apatite was identified in diverse lunar rock types, except for glass beads and ferroan anorthosites. Ferroan anorthosites, representing the Moon's early crust, hold particular significance. These rocks, which date back around 4.5 4.3 billion years, are thought to have originated straight from the Lunar Magma Ocean while the Moon's surface was extremely molten.

The identification of apatite in ferroan anorthosites provides scientists with a direct opportunity to study an unknown geological phase in the lunar evolution. "Unravelling the history of water in the earliest formed lunar crust approximately 4.5 billion years ago is important for improving our understanding of the origin of water in the Solar System," said Mahesh Anand, professor of planetary science and exploration at The Open University.

The team underscores that this study is timely, coinciding with NASA's preparations for a return to the Moon through its Artemis missions. Furthermore, experts have long believed that the lunar surface has been dried for hundreds, if not millions, of years. This discovery raises the prospect of water resources on the Moon, opening the path for future research and extraction efforts.

The study was published in the journal on January 15 and can be found ..