Triple oxygen isotopes of lunar water unveil indigenous and cometary heritage.

ABSTRACT: The origin of water in the Earth-Moon system is a pivotal question in planetary science, particularly with the need for water resources in the race to establish lunar bases. The candidate origins of lunar water are an indigenous lunar component, solar wind water production, and the delivery of meteoritic and cometary material. Characterizing the oxygen isotopic composition of water provides information on lunar oxygen sources. The scarcity of lunar water required the development of a high-precision analytical technique for small samples. This method employs stepwise heating, fluorination, and oxygen isotopic measurements using a dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The three heating steps were selected based on other extraterrestrial material studies to release loosely bound water t

SUBMITTER: Thiemens MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11670183 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature