Chinese scientists have released research based on lunar samples retrieved by the Chang’e‑6 mission from the far side of the moon, offering the first direct evidence of volcanic activity, magnetic field evolution, and deep geochemical differences in the lunar mantle. This is reported by
CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS.

Chang’e‑6 returned to Earth in 2024 with 1,935.3 grams of samples collected from the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) Basin, the largest and oldest impact basin on the moon, measuring 2,500 kilometres in diameter. This area, largely unexplored until now, has enabled scientists to investigate fundamental differences between the moon’s near and far sides.

The research was conducted by teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other leading institutions. The studies reveal that volcanic activity on the far side persisted from around 4.2 to 2.8 billion years ago. They also present the first magnetic field data ever obtained from the moon’s far side, indicating a rebound in magnetic intensity approximately 2.8 billion years ago.

One of the most significant discoveries concerns the moon’s deep interior. Scientists found the mantle beneath the SPA Basin to be extremely depleted in incompatible elements, suggesting either an originally dry and chemically distinct mantle or the result of massive impact-induced melting. This supports the hypothesis that large impacts significantly shaped the moon’s interior structure.

Researchers also discovered that the water content in the far-side mantle is markedly lower than that of the near side, indicating hemispherical differences in water distribution and providing clues to the moon’s early cooling and layering processes.

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