Study Suggests the Moon was Active 120 Million Years Ago

A study by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that the Moon may have been geologically active as recently as 120 million years ago. This finding contrasts with previous research suggesting lunar volcanic activity ceased about three billion years ago. The study analyzed glass beads from lunar samples returned by the People's Republic of China's Chang'e-5 mission, which landed in December 2020. Out of approximately 3,000 beads examined, three were identified as volcanic based on their textures, chemical compositions, and sulfur isotopes. These beads are thought to have formed around 123 million years ago from rapidly cooled magma. The research highlights high levels of rare earth elements and thorium in the beads, pointing to recent volcanism linked to localized heat sources in the lunar mantle. The Chang'e-5 mission returned 1,731 grams of lunar samples, leading to over 80 published findings, including the identification of the Moon's "youngest" basalt a nd new lunar minerals. Source: Oman News Agency