Moon rocks collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission reveal a chemical clue to the giant impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken basin billions of years ago

The Chang'e-6 mission has uncovered new insights into the Moon's internal chemistry through its collected basalt samples. These samples exhibit a distinct isotopic signature, specifically containing heavier potassium isotopes compared to those analyzed from earlier Apollo and Chang’e-5 missions.

This chemical difference is interpreted as evidence pointing to a significant ancient impact event. The hypothesis suggests such an impact could have altered deep material within the Moon's mantle, potentially leading to the evaporation of lighter potassium isotopes.

The process of potassium evaporation would leave behind a residual material enriched with heavier isotopes, thereby influencing the chemical signature now observed. This finding contributes to understanding the giant impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken basin billions of years ago, offering a specific chemical clue to lunar geological history.