【中国青年报】巨型撞击让月幔丢了“钾” 嫦娥六号样品又有新发现

Core Viewpoint - The research team from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed that the impact event in the South Pole-Aitken Basin led to the loss of moderately volatile elements in the lunar mantle, providing significant insights into the effects of large impacts on lunar evolution and the origins of the Moon's dichotomy [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized high-precision potassium isotope analysis of samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission, marking the first time such an analysis has been conducted on lunar far side samples [1] - The results indicated that the Chang'e 6 basalt samples exhibited a higher potassium-41/potassium-39 ratio compared to Apollo samples from the lunar near side [1] - The research confirmed that the impact event altered the potassium isotope composition of the lunar mantle, resulting in potassium loss and elevated isotope ratios [1] Group 2: Implications of Findings - The loss of volatiles during the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions of the impact likely suppressed later volcanic activity on the lunar far side, providing critical clues for understanding the geological evolution history of the Moon's near and far sides [1] - The study contributes to the understanding of how early large impact events may have influenced the deep structure of the Moon, which remains unclear [1]