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5h ago

Chang'e-6 Far-Side Samples Link Giant Impact to Moon's Hemispheric Split

Isotopic analysis shows heavier potassium in South Pole–Aitken material, a signature of volatile loss from extreme heating.

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Our Moon Is Curiously Lopsided, And a Massive Impact Could Be to Blame
This artist’s concept shows the Moon’s hot interior and volcanism about 2 to 3 billion years ago. It is thought that volcanic activity on the lunar near side (the side facing Earth) helped create a landscape dominated by vast plains called mare, which are formed by molten rock that cooled and solidified. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Overview

  • The Chinese Academy of Sciences team led by Heng‑Ci Tian reports the results in PNAS using Chang'e‑6 samples from the South Pole–Aitken basin.
  • High‑precision measurements find enrichment in heavier potassium isotopes, with iron only slightly heavier, relative to Apollo and Chang'e‑5 near‑side basalts.
  • The isotopic pattern is inconsistent with ordinary magmatic processes and is interpreted as evaporation-driven volatile loss from a deep, extremely hot impact.
  • The study proposes that the event pushed heat‑producing elements toward the near side, fostering widespread mare volcanism, while the far side remained more depleted.
  • The conclusions are based on four tiny basalt fragments, so researchers emphasize the need for more far‑side samples to test how broadly this signature occurs.