Scientists analyzing lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-6 mission have identified fragments of a rare type of meteorite containing water and organic compounds — a discovery that could reshape our understanding of mass transfer within the solar system.
The detected fragments are similar to CI chondrites, an exceptionally rare group of meteorites that make up less than one percent of all those ever collected on Earth. Unlike Earth, the Moon has no atmosphere or plate tectonics, allowing it to preserve a pristine record of ancient asteroid impacts—essentially serving as a “natural archive.”
Using advanced techniques to analyze the mineral composition and oxygen isotopes of the lunar soil, researchers confirmed that the fragments originated from CI-like chondrites—meteorites rich in water and organic materials, typically formed in the outer regions of the solar system.
The findings suggest that the Earth–Moon system may have experienced more frequent collisions with carbonaceous chondrites than previously believed.
Dr. Lin Meng of the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG) said the discovery not only provides evidence that materials from the outer solar system were transferred inward, but also has major implications for understanding the origin of lunar water.
Source: Prema-Hashim-Chai, China Media Group.