China discovers two new minerals in Moon samples

Chinese scientists have reportedly discovered two previously unknown minerals in samples collected from the Moon.

According to Global Times, the discovery was announced during the opening ceremony of the 11th China Space Day held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

The phosphate minerals found in rock and soil samples collected by the Chang'e 5 probe have been named “magneziochangbaiite-(Y)” and “changbaiite-(Ce).”

These rare earth phosphate minerals were classified and approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification.

China’s second and third lunar mineral discoveries

The two minerals are the second and third discovered by China in lunar rock and soil samples. Previously, in September 2022, Chinese scientists announced the discovery of a phosphate mineral named “changbaiite-(Y)” in Moon samples.

With these new findings, the total number of minerals discovered on the Moon has risen to eight. Before China, the United States and Russia had led mineral discoveries by collecting lunar rock and soil samples.

China launched the Chang'e 5 probe in November 2020 with the aim of collecting samples from the Moon’s surface. The spacecraft returned to Earth in December 2020 with 1.73 kilograms of lunar rock and soil.