The moon has experienced volcanic activity for billions of years, including “young” eruptions 2.8 billion years ago.
For the first time, scientists have accessed soil samples returned from the far side of the Moon by China’s Chang’e-6 mission and discovered that volcanic activity on the Earth satellite lasted billions of years. billion years.
The analysis confirmed that from the oldest lava eruption 4.2 billion years ago to the relatively “young” one – 2.8 billion years ago – the surface of the Moon has undergone continuous geological changes.
These findings were published in the prestigious journals Science and Nature. Chang’e-6, which returned nearly two kilograms of lunar soil to Earth, became China’s second mission to successfully explore the far side of the Moon. The first, Chang’e-4, landed in 2019.
The samples were collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the oldest and largest lunar craters. Scientists have discovered that the fine lunar dust is composed of particles from different geological periods. Some of them were formed during lava eruptions 2.83 billion years ago, while others were formed 4.2 billion years ago.
“The continuous impact of micrometeorites and high-energy solar particles destroys the rocks, turning them into dust that spreads over the surface without an atmosphere,” explained petrologist Yi-Gang Xu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
These data once again confirm that the far side of the Moon is a unique region that hides traces of the satellite’s active geological history. It is impossible to observe it from Earth due to tidal synchronization, so the study of such samples is an important step in the study of space.
It was previously reported that the Chang’e-6 apparatus landed on the far side of the Moon on Sunday, June 2.
The Chinese probe brought soil samples to Earth from the far side of the Moon
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Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.