One Scientific teacher It happened in December 2020, when the Chinese Chang'e-5 space mission collected some rocks from the moon, and what researchers found surprised the scientific community.
Analysis performed on the samples revealed the presence of a previously unknown mineral: Changesite-(Y).
A new study, published in the journal Matter and Radiation at Extremes, provides more information about this fascinating discovery.
Insights into the geological history of the Moon
Changesite-(Y) is a transparent, colorless phosphate mineral composed of column-shaped crystals.
The team of scientists believes that it was formed at the end of the crystallization stage of the basalt present in the landing zone, which represents a major advance in understanding the lunar composition.
In addition to Changesite-(Y), researchers have identified other interesting minerals in lunar samples. Two well-known shock minerals have been found, stichuvite and seifertite, both of which are polymorphs of silica.
despite of moon Although they feature impact craters, high-pressure minerals are rare on their surface.
The discovery of these components indicates a complex process of formation and decline, as most high-pressure minerals are unstable at high temperatures.
Mineral alteration site-(Y) – Photo: Beijing Uranium Geology/Reproduction Institute
A specific sample highlighted the coexistence of stichuvite and cyphertite, indicating the possibility of transformations between these two minerals under different conditions.
The study also suggests that a third form of silica, α-cristobalite, is a precursor to both identified impact minerals.
The place of origin of the samples, Aristarco crater, close to Oceanus Procellarum, where the probe landed, reveals the great geological complexity of the Moon.
Such discoveries not only enrich our knowledge of the Moon's formation, but also open doors to understanding the geological processes that shaped the Moon's surface over thousands of years, while also shedding light on planetary processes and planetary formation. Solar System.
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