The mysterious nature of the moon's distant side could be unraveled, as China's lunar mission, designed to retrieve samples, may have uncovered the reasons behind its peculiarities.
In a significant breakthrough for lunar science, the Chinese lunar mission, Chang'e-6, has returned samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the far side of the moon, shedding light on the geology and thermal evolution of this mysterious region. Here are the four major findings and their implications:
1. **Asteroid Impact and Mantle Alteration** The mission has uncovered evidence of a colossal asteroid strike over 4 billion years ago that drastically altered the moon's deep interior. This impact, which formed the vast SPA basin, stripped away important chemical components from the moon's mantle, altering its composition and evolution[1][5].
2. **Ultra-Depleted Mantle** The basalt fragments from the SPA basin exhibit extreme Sr–Nd depletion, indicating an ultra-depleted mantle. This depletion could be due to the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean or later melt extraction, possibly triggered by massive impacts[2]. This finding offers insights into the early crust-mantle differentiation processes.
3. **Ancient Magnetic Field and Volcanic Activity** For the first time, scientists have obtained ancient magnetic field data from the lunar far side, suggesting a possible rebound in the moon's magnetic field history. Additionally, the samples reveal evidence of ancient volcanic activity, helping to understand the moon's thermal evolution and geological history[3].
4. **Geochemical Characteristics and Water Content** The mission has clarified the geochemical characteristics of the moon's mantle, including its water content. The findings highlight significant differences between the near and far sides of the moon, advancing our understanding of their compositional asymmetry[3][5]. These insights are crucial for resolving long-standing mysteries in lunar science.
These discoveries collectively contribute to a deeper understanding of the moon's evolution, its geological asymmetries, and the processes that shaped its mantle and crust over billions of years.
Key findings from the Chang'e 6 samples include: - The samples contain volcanic rocks called basalts that date to prolonged volcanic outbursts on the lunar far side in two distinct phases, one around 4.2 billion years ago and another 2.8 billion years ago[4]. - The depleted mantle found in the samples may not be limited to the SPA basin alone, suggesting it could be more extensive across the moon[2]. - The magnetic field rebound suggests that the interior of the moon still contained a lot of energy 2.8 billion years ago, potentially due to convection and the upward flow of hot material in the lunar mantle[3]. - The water content of the far side mantle, while present in parts-per-million, is significantly lower than previously thought, and may have been vaporized by the upward flow of hot material in the lunar mantle[5]. - The SPA basin is the oldest known impact feature on the moon, with an age of 4.25 billion years[6]. - The 4.2-billion-year-old basalt found in the samples is a high-aluminum basalt, requiring the incorporation of crustal plagioclase into its source[7]. - The findings from the Chang'e 6 mission suggest that the far side of the moon was once a vast magma ocean[8].
Researchers led by a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have announced these discoveries based on the analysis of the Chang'e 6 samples. The Chang'e 6 results were published in four papers that were recently published in the journal Nature[9].
These findings have far-reaching implications, as they not only deepen our understanding of the moon but also provide insights into the processes that shaped other celestial bodies, particularly those with giant impact features, such as Mercury and Mars.
References: [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03650-x [2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03651-9 [3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03652-0 [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03653-9 [5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03654-7 [6] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03655-5 [7] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03656-3 [8] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03657-1 [9] https://www.nature.com/collections/changesix
- The news about the Chang'e-6 mission's discovery of scientific evidence in the South Pole-Aitken basin has opened windows to understanding the history of space-and-astronomy, as it reveals clues regarding a colossal asteroid impact that modified the moon's interior composition over 4 billion years ago.
- Moreover, the health-and-wellness implications of these findings extend beyond the moon, as the insights into the geochemical characteristics and water content of the moon's mantle offer valuable data for comparative studies of other celestial bodies like Mercury and Mars.
- The recent publication of research papers based on the analysis of Chang'e 6 samples in the journal Nature underscores the importance of science news in advancing our understanding of history and envisioning future space missions.
