月球水从哪里来？这一重要发现开辟新思路

Core Insights - A research team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, identified impact residues from a type of carbonaceous chondrite known as "CI-type" in lunar soil samples from the Chang'e 6 mission, which are rich in water and other components. This discovery opens new avenues for studying the distribution and evolution of water resources on the Moon [1][2]. Group 1 - The origin of lunar water has been debated, with hypotheses suggesting it could be indigenous or delivered by comets and asteroids. The recent findings indicate that CI-type carbonaceous chondrites, which are water-rich, contribute significantly to lunar water [2]. - The research focused on a 2-gram sample from the Chang'e 6 mission, where seven micro-fragments rich in olivine were identified. These fragments are products of CI-type carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies that impacted the Moon's surface, melted, and then rapidly crystallized [2]. - CI-type carbonaceous chondrites are primarily found in the outer solar system and are characterized by their volatile components, including water and organic matter. The study revealed that the proportion of such meteorites on the Moon's surface is significantly higher than on Earth, suggesting that materials from the asteroid belt can migrate into the inner solar system [2][3]. Group 2 - The contribution of these meteorites to lunar water has been previously underestimated. Future research is needed to quantify the amount of water delivered to the Moon by this type of meteorite [3].