Part of the lunar basin, the Ocean of Storms is rich in the heat-generating elements responsible for maintaining long-term volcanic activity on the Moon.
Chinese scientists have found evidence of lava eruptions in lunar soil samples that filled the landing site of the Chinese probe, which was launched as part of the Chang’e-5 lunar exploration mission. This was reported by Xinhua.
In late 2020, a Chinese probe delivered samples of lunar soil weighing about 1,731 grams to Earth. The landing area of Chang’e-5 in the northeastern part of the Ocean of Storms basin, which is considered to be one of the youngest basalt formations on the surface of the Moon.
According to researchers, the area is rich in uranium, thorium and potassium, which are responsible for maintaining long-term volcanic activity on the moon.
“Thus, studying the thickness of the basalt massif and the volcanic mass flow during eruptions at the Chang’e-5 landing site will contribute to further progress in understanding the processes of volcanic activity on the Moon and the history of thermal evolution in its gut,” said Du Jun, who led the research project.
So, scientists conducted a study of the thickness of the basalt layers in the landing area of the spacecraft, the results of which showed that at least four volcanic eruptions occurred here, which left four layer with a median thickness of each of 230 meters, 70 meters, 4 meters and 36 meters, respectively. .
All these events took place about two billion years ago.
It was previously reported that NASA, in preparation for sending astronauts to the moon, has identified 13 candidate regions for landing in the South Pole region of the Moon.
The moon was once part of the earth
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Source: korrespondent
