Microphase iron particle growth promoted by solar wind implantation in lunar soils

Lunar soils record the history and spectral changes resulting from the space-weathering process. The solar wind and micrometeoroids are the main space-weathering agents leading to darkening (decreasing albedo) and reddening (increasing reflectance with longer wavelength) of visible and near-infrared spectra. Nevertheless, their relative contributions are not well constrained and understood. In this study, we examine the near-infrared spectral variation as a function of lunar latitude and chemical composition using remote spectroscopic analysis of mare basalts and swirl regions. The results indicate that the reflectance of lunar mature soils darkens and the spectral slope flattens (reddening effect saturation) in areas of enhanced solar wind flux. We propose a previously unrecognized stage of space weathering (the post-mature stage), in which solar wind implantation may contribute to the growth and coarsening of metallic iron particles into larger microphase iron. This space-weathering mechanism is dominated by the solar wind and has important implications for understanding the alteration processes of airless bodies across our solar system.