Moon Samples Reveal Ancient Mega-Impact Altered Lunar Interior
New lunar rocks tell a violent story. China’s Chang’e-6 mission collected samples from the Moon’s largest crater. Scientists found a unique chemical signature in these rocks. This evidence points to a colossal ancient collision. The impact did more than make a crater. It fundamentally changed the Moon’s deep interior.
A Chemical Fingerprint in Moon Rocks
Researchers analyzed basalt from the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This is the Moon’s oldest and biggest impact scar. The rocks contained unusually heavy potassium isotopes. Potassium is a volatile element. Extreme heat can make it vaporize. Therefore, its chemical signature acts like a forensic record.
Linking Chemistry to a Cataclysm
The team measured potassium with high precision. The Chang’e-6 samples were much heavier than other Moon rocks. For example, they differed from Apollo mission samples. Scientists ruled out other causes like cosmic rays. The evidence clearly pointed to the giant basin-forming impact. This event vaporized elements, leaving a lasting mark.
The Impact’s Deep and Lasting Effects
The collision’s heat was unimaginable. It likely stripped volatile elements from the lunar mantle. This process may have reduced later volcanic activity. In fact, it could explain a major lunar mystery. The Moon’s far side has much less volcanic rock than the near side. This ancient impact may be the reason why.
This finding shows impacts reshape worlds from the inside out. Giant collisions affect a planet’s internal chemistry and evolution. The study reminds us that celestial bodies have dramatic histories. A single event can define a world’s future for billions of years.
