Prominent volcanic source of volatiles in the south polar region of the Moon

Gas-rich discharges of magma produced pyroclastic vents on the lunar surface. Calculations suggest those pyroclastic vents repeatedly generated 10(12) to 10(15) g of H2O and CO + CO2 for pyroclastic volumes of 10 to 500 km(3) early in lunar history, particularly during the first billion years of lunar history. Some of those volatiles migrated to the lunar poles where they could be trapped in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). The largest indigenous source of volatiles in the south polar region was volcanism that occurred on the floor of the Schrodinger impact basin. Here a large pyroclastic vent ceased erupting similar to 3.70(-0.03)(+0.02) Ga, releasing H2O, CO-CO2, F, S, and Cl vapor species, including calculated values of 3.0 x 10(13) to 1.6 x 10(14) g H2O. A transport and depositional model suggests 1.1 x 10(10) kg (12%) of that water may have been trapped in the south polar region. (C) 2021 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The study reveals that gas-rich discharges of magma on the lunar surface produced significant amounts of water and gases, with some of the water being trapped in permanently shadowed regions at the lunar poles. The water in the south polar region mainly originated from volcanic activity on the floor of the Schrodinger impact basin.