A groundbreaking study has revealed that volcanic activity on the moon continued until about 120 million years ago, significantly later than previously believed.
This revelation comes from the analysis of tiny volcanic glass beads brought back by China's Chang'e-5 mission in 2020. The mission, which made history by returning the first lunar samples to Earth in over four decades, has provided scientists with invaluable insights into the moon's geological history.
A team led by Professor Li Qiuli from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted meticulous radiometric dating on these glass beads. Their findings, published in the journal Science, indicate that the beads formed approximately 120 million years ago, suggesting that lunar volcanic activity persisted much longer than previously thought.
The analysis revealed high concentrations of rare earth elements and thorium within the beads. This suggests that the sustained volcanism might be linked to localized enrichment of heat-producing elements in the moon's mantle, fueling prolonged magmatic activity.
Previously, studies of lunar rock samples had led researchers to conclude that the moon's volcanic activity ceased around 2 billion years ago. The new findings challenge this timeline, pushing the end of lunar volcanism forward by nearly 1.9 billion years.
"This discovery reshapes our understanding of the moon's thermal and geological evolution," said Professor Li. "It prompts us to reconsider the cooling rate of the moon and the mechanisms that could sustain volcanic activity over such an extended period."
The study underscores the importance of continued lunar exploration and sample return missions. By piecing together the moon's volcanic history, scientists can gain deeper insights into the geological processes that shape not only our celestial neighbor but also other rocky bodies in the solar system.
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New study reveals moon volcanism continued until 120 million years ago
cgtn.com
