Widespread ilmenite contributions to the surface water cycle in lunar Procellarum KREEP Terrane

Yuchen Xu, Liyu Shan, Heng-Ci Tian (), Jialong Hao, Yangting Lin, Christian Wöhler, Lixin Gu, Zhuang Guo, Ruiying Li, Tianxin Zhang, Wei Yang, Yang Liu, Xu Tang, Sheng Gou, Huaiyu He, Yongliao Zou and Xianhua Li
Additional contact information
Yuchen Xu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liyu Shan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Heng-Ci Tian: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jialong Hao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yangting Lin: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Christian Wöhler: TU Dortmund University
Lixin Gu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhuang Guo: Northwest University
Ruiying Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tianxin Zhang: Deep Space Exploration Laboratory
Wei Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yang Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xu Tang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sheng Gou: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Huaiyu He: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongliao Zou: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xianhua Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The role of widespread ilmenite in lunar mare regions in the abundance and diurnal variations of surficial OH/H2O 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. H2O 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.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62914-4

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