Scientists discover rare meteorite relics in Chang’e-6 lunar samples

Chinese scientists have discovered rare relics from CI-like chondrite meteorites in lunar samples returned by the Chang'e-6 mission. These fragments, identified through advanced mineral and isotope analysis, provide evidence of ancient impacts from outer Solar System materials on the Moon's far side. The findings suggest more frequent carbonaceous chondrite collisions in the Earth-Moon system than previously thought, with implications for lunar water origins.

Mission Background

Chang'e-6, launched in 2024, collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the Moon's largest and oldest impact crater. Unlike Earth, the Moon's lack of atmosphere and tectonics preserves these meteorite relics as a "natural archive" of asteroid strikes.

Significance of Findings

The CI chondrites, rich in water and organics, are rarer than 1% of Earth's meteorites. Their presence indicates material migration from the outer to inner Solar System, aiding studies on lunar water distribution and evolution.

Research Details

Led by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (Chinese Academy of Sciences), the study appeared in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It identified seven olivine fragments via trace elements and oxygen isotopes, establishing new methods for detecting meteoritic materials in extraterrestrial samples.