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]

Core Insights - Chinese scientists have made significant progress in understanding the "ultra-depleted" characteristics of the lunar mantle material from the South Pole-Aitken basin, based on samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission, providing crucial information for understanding the early shell-mantle evolution of the Moon [1][10] Group 1: Research Findings - The study reveals that the lunar mantle material is extremely "depleted," lacking elements that easily melt and rise with magma, indicating a unique composition of the lunar interior [4][6] - The research team has proposed two models to explain the extreme "ultra-depleted" characteristics: the "primordial depletion" model and the "post-impact modification" model [5][6] Group 2: Models Explained - The "primordial depletion" model suggests that during the Moon's formation, a massive magma ocean cooled unevenly, leading to the separation of heavy minerals to the bottom and leaving behind a depleted mantle that requires minimal partial melting to form basalt [6][7] - The "post-impact modification" model posits that the South Pole-Aitken basin's giant impact significantly altered the lunar mantle, extracting a large amount of magma and resulting in an extremely depleted state that also requires less partial melting to form basalt [6][7] Group 3: Implications - If the "primordial depletion" model is validated, it implies that the basalt from Chang'e 6 originates from a deep, undisturbed mantle, suggesting that the differences observed between the lunar front and back may be a result of later geological processes [7][10] - If the "post-impact modification" model holds true, it indicates that giant impacts can reshape not only the surface but also the internal composition of celestial bodies, providing new insights into the early differentiation of planetary bodies in the solar system [7][10]

嫦娥六号玄武岩样品揭示月球背面月幔水含量更少。图/李林曦、何会存、芶盛等绘制 《自然》审稿人指出，这是一项具有高度原创性的研究，研究团队对人类首批月球背面玄武岩进行了月幔水含量 的基础工作。其中一位审稿人表示："这篇论文首次报告了月球背面月幔的水含量，它将成为月球背面月幔水含量 里程碑式的一项研究。" 研究样品由国家航天局提供。 月幔水含量在揭示月球起源、岩浆活动、资源环境效应等方面具有重要意义。目前普遍认为，约45亿年前，一颗 火星大小的天体（Theia）撞击原始地球，抛射出的物质经过重新吸积形成了月球，即月球的起点——大碰撞起源 假说。在这个极其高温的撞击事件中，月球预期极度贫水，月球贫水也是阿波罗时代最伟大的科学成就之一。近 20年来，月幔水含量的研究一直存在富水和贫水的争议，且所有发表的数据都集中在月球正面。 中国嫦娥六号任务从月球南极艾特肯（SPA）盆地内的阿波罗撞击坑采回了人类第一份月背样品。中国科学院地 质与地球物理研究所李献华院士团队和广州地球化学研究所徐义刚院士团队已有研究成果显示，嫦娥六号玄武岩 主期次喷发年龄为28亿年，这些玄武岩为认识月幔水的时空演化提供了重要机遇。 中国科学院地质与地 ...