China finds new moon mineral in first domestically recovered lunar meteorite

BEIJING, 27 April (BelTA - China Daily) - Chinese scientists have identified a new mineral in the first lunar meteorite ever found in China, marking the 11th lunar mineral discovered worldwide. With this finding, China has now identified four lunar minerals, tying with the United States for the most lunar mineral discoveries.

The mineral, named Magnesiochangesite-(Ce), has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, the global authority responsible for verifying and naming newly discovered minerals.

A rare-earth-bearing phosphate, Magnesiochangesite-(Ce) is colorless and transparent with a glass-like luster. It is brittle, breaks with shell-like fractures, and fluoresces under ultraviolet light. Researchers said such properties help distinguish it from other lunar materials.

The mineral was discovered in Pakepake 005, the first lunar meteorite found in China. The 44-gram spherical stone, with a dark fusion crust formed during its passage through Earth's atmosphere, was recovered in 2024 in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Wang Yanjuan, a doctoral graduate at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and the first to identify the mineral, said the discovery carries scientific significance.

"The discovery provides key mineralogical evidence for understanding the origin and evolution of the moon, and expands the boundaries of human knowledge of the material world," Wang said.

She added that the mineral's crystal structure and chemical composition offer insights into lunar volcanic activity and the way rare-earth elements separate during planetary formation. She also noted its unusual luminescent properties could inform the development of new glowing materials.

Che Xiaochao, an associate researcher at the Planetary Science Research Center of the Institute of Geology under the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, said analysis of the meteorite relied on a domestically developed high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer. The instrument uses a focused ion beam to analyze a sample's surface composition at the microscopic level without dissolving or destroying it.

"It's like doing a CT scan on the rock - without dissolving the sample, we can accurately obtain its internal chemical information and precisely analyze almost all elements and isotopes," Che said. He noted the technology also has applications in semiconductors and new energy materials.

Institute director Yang Zhiming said advanced instruments are essential for accurately measuring and analyzing rare samples.

He added that the instrument was also used in studying lunar samples from China's Chang'e 6 mission and the country's first lunar meteorite, underscoring the importance of mastering core scientific equipment and analytical techniques to advance research capabilities.