【科技日报】嫦娥六号月壤揭示巨型撞击造成月背深部物质丢失

Core Insights - The research reveals that a significant impact event approximately 4.25 billion years ago in the South Pole-Aitken basin not only created the largest crater on the Moon but also altered the deep material on the Moon's far side, leading to the loss of certain volatile elements [1] Group 1: Impact of the Research - The study provides critical samples from the South Pole-Aitken basin, which is the largest impact basin on the Moon, enabling a deeper understanding of the effects of large impact events on the Moon's interior [1] - The research highlights that asteroid impacts have been the primary external force shaping the Moon's surface since its formation, creating numerous craters and basins that significantly altered its topography and chemical composition [1] Group 2: Isotope Analysis Findings - The analysis of potassium isotopes from the lunar basalt samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission shows a significantly higher proportion of the heavier potassium isotope (K-41) compared to samples from the Moon's near side [2] - The study concludes that the early large impact event altered the potassium isotope composition of the Moon's deep mantle, with the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions during the impact causing the lighter potassium isotope (K-39) to escape, resulting in a relative enrichment of K-41 in the remaining material [2] - This loss of volatile elements is suggested to have potentially suppressed later volcanic activity on the Moon's far side, providing key scientific insights into the differences in geological evolution between the Moon's near and far sides [2]