Lunar glass

Abstract

Lunar glass, a significant component of lunar soil, is produced by non-equilibrium processes on the moon, such as volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts, solar wind, and cosmic radiation. Lunar glass of different origins has ability to record historical information of the formation and evolution of the moon. This article presents a comprehensive review of the research progress of lunar glasses found within the CE-5 lunar soil. Delving into their fundamental physical properties and microstructure, we explore the specific mechanisms behind the formation of lunar glasses. Furthermore, this article focuses on the various roles that lunar glasses play in studies of lunar evolution, such as acting as a “natural camera” that captures the moon's internal and surface changes over different epochs, encompassing lunar origin, magma activity, impact events, space weathering, and the origin of water. The ultra-stable lunar glass with disordered atomic structure can sustainably preserve lunar resources. It is estimated that lunar glasses have reserved approximately 260000 tons of ³He, and 27 billion tons of water. Moreover, lunar glasses serve as an invaluable lunar chronometer, providing a reliable temporal framework to data volcanic activity and impact events. This temporal framework, in turn, serves as a vital tool for investigating the evolution of lunar water, magnetic fields and reconstructing the extensive billion-year history of lunar impacts.