Tracking secular changes in the "water" content of lunar interior using basaltic lunar meteorites

Lunar meteorites provide a wider sampling of the lunar surface compared to the samples collected during the Apollo and Luna Missions. Apatite is the main hydroxyl-bearing (proxy for water) mineral in lunar samples, especially in basaltic rocks. Apatite is also amenable to in-situ U-Pb age dating studies. The ages of lunar basaltic meteorites also span over a larger range compared to basaltic samples from Apollo and Luna collections. Thus, by determining the age, the H-content, and the H isotopic composition of apatites from lunar basaltic meteorites, it is possible to investigate any secular variation in the water contents of the lunar interior