The discovery of a new lunar mineral by Chinese scientists adds to the knowledge of the Earth's satellite that had been the focus of earlier space exploration.
The scientists found a single crystal of a new phosphate mineral that they have named Changesite-(Y) while analyzing particles of lunar basalt.
The discovery was connected to the Chang'e-5 mission that succeeded in retrieving lunar samples as part of more ambitious plans for space exploration by China. It was the first country in four decades to bring back lunar rocks and soil in December 2020.
Changesite-(Y) was confirmed as a new mineral by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification.
James Head is a professor of geological sciences at Brown University.
The results of recent computer modeling support a theory that the moon was created from debris left from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized planetary body.
Between 1969 and 1972, NASA collected 2,200 samples from the lunar surface. NASA is studying samples from the Apollo missions and recently opened a sample in preparation for the Artemis missions to the moon.
NASA said that new samples from different locations on the moon will expand the knowledge of the planet.
Professor Head said that most sampling has focused on the central part of the moon.
Clive Neal is a professor of planetary geology at the University of Notre Dame. Armalcolite was found during the Apollo 11 mission and is referred to as a portmanteau.
Upcoming expeditions are targeting unexplored territory on the moon. Professor Neal said that samples from younger terrain on the planet could help scientists understand how the moon evolved.
He said that the moon is revealing some interesting secrets.
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