Rare Meteorite Relics Found in Chang’e-6 Samples

Chinese scientists have made a important discovery by analysing lunar samples brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission, revealing rare meteorite relics that could alter our understanding of mass transfer within the Solar System. This groundbreaking study was conducted by a team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Discovery of Rare Meteorite Relics

The research identified CI chondrites within the lunar samples, a type of meteorite that is rich in water and organic materials and typically originates from the outer regions of the Solar System. These meteorites are exceedingly rare on Earth, constituting less than one per cent of all collected meteorites. The Moon, lacking an atmosphere and plate tectonics, serves as a pristine record of ancient asteroid impacts, preserving valuable information as a “natural archive.”

Research Methodology and Findings

Utilising advanced techniques to assess mineral composition and oxygen isotopes, the researchers confirmed that the lunar soil fragments originated from CI-like chondrites. This finding suggests that the Earth-Moon system may have experienced more collisions from carbonaceous chondrites than previously estimated. The study indicates that materials from the outer Solar System can migrate to the inner Solar System, offering insights into the origin of water on the lunar surface.

Implications for Lunar Water Resources

The discovery holds striking implications for understanding the distribution and evolution of water resources on the Moon. Lin Mang, a researcher at GIG, highlighted that this research provides new directions for future studies on lunar water resources, potentially influencing the strategies for future lunar exploration and utilisation.

Chang’e-6 Mission and Sample Collection

In 2024, the Chang’e-6 mission made history by returning 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples from the Moon’s far side to Earth. These samples were collected from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, known as the largest, deepest, and oldest basin on the Moon. The study also established systematic methods for identifying meteoritic materials in extraterrestrial samples, paving the way for future research in planetary science.