Rare meteorite debris uncovered on Moon’s far side

What is it about?

Meteorite impacts are a universal process that shapes planetary surfaces and alters their compositions. Identifying the types and abundances of meteoritic materials in lunar samples is essential to understanding the evolution of the Earth–Moon system. In this study, we discovered seven relics of CI chondrite in the first-ever rock samples returned from the far side of the Moon by China’s Chang’e-6 mission. CI chondrites are rich in water and organic materials, yet are rarely preserved on Earth. Their widespread presence in lunar regolith suggests that CI chondrites have made a greater contribution to the Earth–Moon system than previously recognized.

Featured Image

Photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash

Photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study makes key contributions to planetary science in three aspects. First, we developed an integrated methodology combining textural observations with olivine Fe-Mn-Zn systematics and triple oxygen isotope analysis, which is applicable to both lunar and other extraterrestrial samples. Second, our preliminary statistical analysis of meteoritic materials on the Moon reveals a substantially higher proportion of CI chondrites than found in Earth’s collections, indicating their contribution to the Earth-Moon system has been severely underestimated. Third, given that CI chondrites are water- and carbon-rich, their prevalence suggests a potentially major role in delivering water and organics to the Earth-Moon system.

Perspectives