Rare Meteorite Relics Found in Chang’e-6 Lunar Samples

• Chinese scientists have discovered rare meteorite relics in lunar samples returned by the Chang’e-6 mission , offering new insights into the Solar System’s material exchange and the Moon’s water origin. The study, conducted by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences , was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

Key Highlights:

• Discovery: The team identified CI chondrites —meteorites rich in water and organic matter—within the lunar soil. These rare meteorites, originating from the outer Solar System, make up less than 1% of those found on Earth.

• Findings: Analysis of mineral composition and oxygen isotopes confirmed that the fragments came from CI-like chondrites, suggesting more frequent impacts from carbonaceous bodies on the Earth-Moon system than previously believed.

• Significance: The results reveal that materials from the outer Solar System may have migrated inward, shedding light on how water and organic materials reached the Moon.

• Chang’e-6 Mission: Launched in 2024, Chang’e-6 returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the Moon’s South Pole–Aitken Basin , the largest and oldest lunar basin.

Importance:
The findings enhance understanding of lunar water resources and provide crucial data for future lunar exploration and planetary science research.