Chinese scientists have discovered an unknown mineral on the moon
(ORDO NEWS) — Chinese scientists have discovered a previously unknown mineral in lunar soil samples brought to Earth by the Chang’e-5 spacecraft.
This was reported by China Central Television on Friday, citing the China National Space Administration and the State Atomic Energy Administration of China.
Chinese scientists discovered a new mineral on the moon for the first time and named it “Chang’e stone,” TV said.
According to him, this mineral became the sixth new mineral discovered by people on the moon, and China became the third country in the world to discover new minerals on the surface of the Earth’s satellite.
The researchers isolated a single-crystal particle about 10 microns in size from lunar soil samples and deciphered its structure.
“Chang’e Stone” is a phosphate mineral. It has the shape of a columnar crystal. Chinese scientists claim that this mineral is found in particles of lunar basalt.
Scientists have announced a new moon mineral ahead of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiujie).
This holiday is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar – September 10 this year.
Zhongqiujie is considered a family holiday in China, when every Chinese must visit his native places, see relatives in order to taste moon cakes with them and admire the full moon.
On November 24, 2020, the Long March 5 launch vehicle was launched from the Wenchang Cosmodrome on Hainan Island. She sent the Chang’e-5 to the moon.
And on December 17 of the same year, the returning Chang’e-5 capsule successfully landed on the territory of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north of the country. The device delivered to Earth 1731 g of samples of lunar rock.
China has become the first country in the last 44 years to carry out a mission to transport geological rock from the surface of the moon.
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