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last mo.

Chang'e-6 Samples Reveal First CI Chondrite Relics on the Moon

The find points to a bigger role for volatile-rich asteroids in supplying water to the early Earth–Moon system.

China's Chang'e-6 mission, the first sample return mission to the far side of the Moon, discovered extremely rare water-rich minerals.CN
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Overview

  • Researchers identified seven microscopic olivine-bearing clasts in far-side lunar soil whose chemical and triple-oxygen isotope signatures match CI-like carbonaceous chondrites.
  • The team used scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis and secondary ion mass spectrometry to confirm the fragments’ non-lunar origin.
  • Because the Moon preserves fragile impact debris that Earth’s atmosphere destroys, the result highlights bias in Earth’s meteorite record and suggests more water-rich impactors than previously inferred.
  • The authors estimate CI-like material could represent up to about 30% of lunar impactors, a provisional figure that will require more samples and independent checks.
  • The same Chang'e-6 suite records two basaltic episodes around 4.2 and 2.8 billion years ago and preserves signs of a transient ancient magnetic field in younger rocks.