Chinese Scientists Discover Signs of Unexpected Oxidation on the Moon
Chinese researchers have made a landmark discovery in lunar samples collected by the Chang’e-6 mission, identifying iron oxide minerals that suggest surprising oxidation processes on the Moon’s surface. The breakthrough challenges long-held assumptions that the Moon’s environment prevents the formation of such minerals.
Breakthrough in Lunar Sample Analysis
The findings were jointly announced by the China National Space Administration, Shandong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A research team examined 3,000 milligrams of lunar soil gathered during the Chang’e-6 mission and found direct evidence linking oxidation to impact events in the Moon’s South Pole–Aitken Basin — one of the largest and oldest known impact craters in the solar system.
“We first identified clues of hematite within thousands of lunar soil spectral data sets, and then used electron microscope micro-area analysis to confirm the crystal structure and mineral types,” explained Ling Zongcheng, deputy director at the School of Space Science and Technology, Shandong University. “Ultimately, we discovered both hematite and maghemite for the first time in the Chang’e-6 samples. This represents a major scientific breakthrough in understanding lunar oxidation.”
Rethinking the Moon’s Chemistry
On Earth, iron readily oxidises — or rusts — in the presence of water and oxygen. The Moon, however, lacks both an atmosphere and significant water reserves, creating a reducing environment where oxidation should be almost impossible. The presence of trivalent iron oxides such as hematite and maghemite therefore points to powerful, previously unrecognised oxidation mechanisms at work on the lunar surface.
Researchers believe these minerals may have formed during massive asteroid impacts that produced extreme heat and magnetic activity. Such events could have temporarily altered local chemical conditions, allowing oxidation to occur. The intermediate magnetic minerals formed during these impacts — including maghemite and magnetite — may also explain the magnetic anomalies found around the South Pole–Aitken Basin.
A New Chapter in Lunar Science
“This discovery is highly significant; it opens a new chapter in humanity’s understanding of lunar oxidation processes,” said Liu, one of the study’s co-authors. “The Moon was long viewed as a reducing environment, and oxidation processes were often overlooked. We now expect more discoveries related to lunar oxidation in the future.”
The research, published in Science Advances, provides vital scientific evidence for future lunar exploration and sheds new light on the Moon’s complex geological evolution. The discovery may also influence how scientists interpret data from upcoming missions, offering a deeper understanding of how planetary surfaces evolve under extreme conditions.
with inputs from Reuters
