Age and composition of young basalts on the Moon, measured from samples returned by Chang’e-5

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abl7957
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21T20:53:08Z
• Authors: Xiaochao Che; Alexander Nemchin; Dunyi Liu; Tao Long; Chen Wang; Marc D. Norman; Katherine H. Joy; Romain Tartese; James Head; Bradley Jolliff; Joshua F. Snape; Clive R. Neal; Martin J. Whitehouse; Carolyn Crow; Gretchen Benedix; Fred Jourdan; Zhiqing Yang; Chun Yang; Jianhui Liu; Shiwen Xie; Zemin Bao; Runlong Fan; Dapeng Li; Zengsheng Li; Stuart G. Webb
• Keywords: Chronology; Lunar mare

Orbital data indicate that the youngest volcanic units on Moon are basalt lavas in Oceanus Procellarum, a region with high levels of heat-producing elements potassium, thorium, and uranium. The Chang’e-5 mission collected samples these young lunar basalts returned them to Earth for laboratory analysis. We measure an age 1963 ± 57 million years determine their chemical mineralogical compositions. This constrains impact chronology inner Solar System thermal evolution Moon. There is no evidence concentrations deep mantle generated lavas, so alternate explanations required longevity magmatism.