Characteristics of the lunar samples returned by the Chang'E-5 mission. Issue 2 (14th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Chunlai; Hu, Hao; Yang, Meng-Fei; Pei, Zhao-Yu; Zhou, Qin; Ren, Xin; Liu, Bin; Liu, Dawei; Zeng, Xingguo; Zhang, Guangliang; Zhang, Hongbo; Liu, Jianjun; Wang, Qiong; Deng, Xiangjin; Xiao, Caijin; Yao, Yonggang; Xue, Dingshuai; Zuo, Wei; Su, Yan; Wen, Weibin; Ouyang, Ziyuan
• Is Part Of: National science review. Volume 9:Issue 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-14
• Subjects: Chang'E-5 -- lunar soils -- physical properties -- petrography -- mineralogy -- chemistry; Science -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwab188
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2095-5138

Abstract

Abstract: Forty-five years after the Apollo and Luna missions returned lunar samples, China's Chang'E-5 (CE-5) mission collected new samples from the mid-latitude region in the northeastern Oceanus Procellarum of the Moon. Our study shows that 95% of CE-5 lunar soil sizes are found to be within the range of 1.40–9.35 μm, while 95% of the soils by mass are within the size range of 4.84–432.27 μm. The bulk density, true density and specific surface area of CE-5 soils are 1.2387 g/cm 3, 3.1952 g/cm 3 and 0.56 m 2 /g, respectively. Fragments from the CE-5 regolith are classified into igneous clasts (mostly basalt), agglutinate and glass. A few breccias were also found. The minerals and compositions of CE-5 soils are consistent with mare basalts and can be classified as low-Ti/low-Al/low-K type with lower rare-earth-element contents than materials rich in potassium, rare earth element and phosphorus. CE-5 soils have high FeO and low Mg index, which could represent a new class of basalt. Abstract : The CE-5 sample is consistent with weathered mare basalts in mineralogy and petrochemistry, and is classified as low-Ti/low-Al/low-K type with lower REE (rare earth element) contents than KREEP (potassium, rare earth element, and phosphorus). This new sample characterized by high FeO and low Mg index could represent a new lunar basalt.