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Endogenous, yet Exotic, Sulfur in the Lunar Mantle.

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Title: Endogenous, yet Exotic, Sulfur in the Lunar Mantle.
Authors: Dottin, J. W.1 (AUTHOR) james_dottin@brown.edu, Simon, S. B.2 (AUTHOR), Shearer, C. K.2 (AUTHOR), Benson, J.1 (AUTHOR), Fu, H.1 (AUTHOR), Boesenberg, J. S.1 (AUTHOR), Monteleone, B.3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets. Sep2025, Vol. 130 Issue 9, p1-17. 17p.
Subject Terms: *Sulfur, Isotopic analysis, Lunar surface, Astrophysical collisions, Solar system, Moon, Lunar soil, Lunar exploration
Abstract: In situ sulfur isotope analyses of sulfides found in regolith particles from the recently opened Apollo 17 drive tube 73001/2 reveal variable 34S/32S and 33S/32S that range from that of typical lunar basalts to strongly 34S‐ and 33S‐depleted values (δ34S = −4.1 ± 0.35 to +1.5 ± 0.029; Δ33S = −2.8 ± 0.48 to −0.1 ± 0.27 (2σ)). All Δ33S and δ34S data are positively correlated. The correlation indicates mixing between at least two distinct sources of sulfur in the lunar mantle, one of which is associated with photochemically processed sulfur from a gaseous environment (strongly negative Δ33S). The gaseous precursor and its preservation in endogenous sulfides require that either the sulfur was delivered to the lunar mantle early in its history through unknown processes or it is a remnant of the giant Moon‐forming impactor. Plain Language Summary: The leading hypotheses for the origin of the Moon call for a giant impact event between proto‐Earth and a separate impactor (Theia). The efficiency of mixing material among these two planetary bodies remains a subject of debate. Inefficient mixing during this process could leave behind remnants of the composition of the proto‐Earth and/or Theia. The sulfur isotope composition of primordial components that survived this impact event could be used to place constraints on early solar nebula chemistry and the distribution of S components throughout the early solar system, as well as the efficiency of mixing during the giant Moon‐forming impact event. This study presents anomalous sulfur isotope data from lunar rocks that indicate the presence of either (a) exotic chemistry and crustal recycling during the early evolution of the Moon or (b) material that was not well mixed during the giant Moon‐Forming impact event. Key Points: Sulfides in regolith particles from the recently opened Apollo 17 drive tube were analyzed for sulfur isotopic and elemental compositionsSulfur isotope measurements reveal evidence of multiple lunar mantle sulfur sourcesOne mantle source has an unusual sulfur‐33 composition that requires delivery during early lunar evolution and inefficient mantle mixing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Endogenous, yet Exotic, Sulfur in the Lunar Mantle.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dottin%2C+J%2E+W%2E%22">Dottin, J. W.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> james_dottin@brown.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Simon%2C+S%2E+B%2E%22">Simon, S. B.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shearer%2C+C%2E+K%2E%22">Shearer, C. K.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Benson%2C+J%2E%22">Benson, J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+H%2E%22">Fu, H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boesenberg%2C+J%2E+S%2E%22">Boesenberg, J. S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Monteleone%2C+B%2E%22">Monteleone, B.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sulfur%22">Sulfur</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Isotopic+analysis%22">Isotopic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunar+surface%22">Lunar surface</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Astrophysical+collisions%22">Astrophysical collisions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+system%22">Solar system</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moon%22">Moon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunar+soil%22">Lunar soil</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunar+exploration%22">Lunar exploration</searchLink>
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  Data: In situ sulfur isotope analyses of sulfides found in regolith particles from the recently opened Apollo 17 drive tube 73001/2 reveal variable 34S/32S and 33S/32S that range from that of typical lunar basalts to strongly 34S‐ and 33S‐depleted values (δ34S = −4.1 ± 0.35 to +1.5 ± 0.029; Δ33S = −2.8 ± 0.48 to −0.1 ± 0.27 (2σ)). All Δ33S and δ34S data are positively correlated. The correlation indicates mixing between at least two distinct sources of sulfur in the lunar mantle, one of which is associated with photochemically processed sulfur from a gaseous environment (strongly negative Δ33S). The gaseous precursor and its preservation in endogenous sulfides require that either the sulfur was delivered to the lunar mantle early in its history through unknown processes or it is a remnant of the giant Moon‐forming impactor. Plain Language Summary: The leading hypotheses for the origin of the Moon call for a giant impact event between proto‐Earth and a separate impactor (Theia). The efficiency of mixing material among these two planetary bodies remains a subject of debate. Inefficient mixing during this process could leave behind remnants of the composition of the proto‐Earth and/or Theia. The sulfur isotope composition of primordial components that survived this impact event could be used to place constraints on early solar nebula chemistry and the distribution of S components throughout the early solar system, as well as the efficiency of mixing during the giant Moon‐forming impact event. This study presents anomalous sulfur isotope data from lunar rocks that indicate the presence of either (a) exotic chemistry and crustal recycling during the early evolution of the Moon or (b) material that was not well mixed during the giant Moon‐Forming impact event. Key Points: Sulfides in regolith particles from the recently opened Apollo 17 drive tube were analyzed for sulfur isotopic and elemental compositionsSulfur isotope measurements reveal evidence of multiple lunar mantle sulfur sourcesOne mantle source has an unusual sulfur‐33 composition that requires delivery during early lunar evolution and inefficient mantle mixing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2024JE008834
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sulfur
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Isotopic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lunar surface
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Astrophysical collisions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar system
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moon
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lunar soil
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lunar exploration
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      – TitleFull: Endogenous, yet Exotic, Sulfur in the Lunar Mantle.
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              M: 09
              Text: Sep2025
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