Compositional complexity of heterogeneous impact glasses in lunar soils: significance and pitfalls

Abstract Heterogeneous impact glass beads are abundant in lunar soils and have been extensively used to study the geological processes that shaped the Moon’s surface. In this study, we examine the compositional complexity of three heterogeneous glass beads containing undigested zirconolite and zircon, using EPMA, Nano-SIMS mapping, and SIMS U–Pb isotope analyses. The undigested zircon and zirconolite crystals document three key volcanic events in the lunar history: at ~ 4.31 Ga the formation of alkali-suite rocks from the highlands, and at ~ 3.92 Ga, and ~ 2.04 Ga mare basalts, indicating that the U–Pb system in these zirconium-bearing crystals remains undisturbed during the ultra-high-temperature, short-duration impact melting events. EPMA and Nano-SIMS mapping reveal significant compositional inhomogeneity in the glass matrices, which complicates accurate provenance determination based on in-situ analysis. Bulk composition calculated from quantitative maps, however, provides a more reliable reference for inferring the origins of these beads. The high proportions of common Pb in the heterogeneous glass matrices, originating from diffusion-controlled processes during partial melting of impact involved minerals, introduce substantial uncertainties in U–Pb dating, complicating the interpretation of impact event ages. These findings highlight the challenges of U–Pb dating in heterogeneous glass beads and provide new insights into the preservation of pristine age information in lunar impact materials.