科学与健康丨月球“休眠”为何还有火山喷发？嫦娥六号样品揭秘

Core Insights - The research reveals that the Moon, previously thought to be "dormant" for 3 billion years, has experienced volcanic activity during this period, challenging existing beliefs about lunar evolution [1][3][4] - The study, published in the journal "Science Advances," was conducted by a team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry and Hong Kong University, focusing on samples returned by China's Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6 missions [1][4] Group 1: Volcanic Activity - The Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6 missions returned basalt samples that are 2 billion and 2.8 billion years old, respectively, indicating that volcanic eruptions occurred during the Moon's "dormant" phase [1][3] - Two types of basalt were identified in the Chang'e 6 samples, one originating from over 120 kilometers deep in the mantle and the other from a shallower depth of 60 to 80 kilometers [3] Group 2: Thermal Dynamics - The research team proposed a new thermal dynamic mechanism where magma, trapped in the upper mantle, can transfer heat upward, leading to partial melting and volcanic eruptions [3][4] - The study found that the heat sources for lunar volcanic activity changed significantly around 3 billion years ago, shifting from a complex mix to a dominant upward heat transfer mechanism [4] Group 3: Lunar Composition and Evolution - Analysis of remote sensing data suggests differences in the composition of the lunar mantle between the near and far sides of the Moon, with the near side having more titanium-rich minerals [4] - The findings provide new insights into the asymmetric evolution of the Moon and contribute to a better understanding of volcanic activity on other small celestial bodies [4]