New research published in Science challenges previous beliefs about the Moon's geological history. Scientists have discovered evidence that volcanic activity on the Moon continued until approximately 120 million years ago, much more recent than the previously estimated 2 billion years.
The findings stem from the analysis of tiny glass beads collected by China's Chang'e-5 mission in 2020. Led by Professor Li Qiuli from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research team conducted radiometric dating on these volcanic beads, revealing their formation age of 120 million years.
The study highlights high concentrations of rare earth elements and thorium in the volcanic glass beads. Researchers believe that this recent volcanism may be linked to local enrichments of heat-generating elements in the Moon's mantle sources.
Previous studies suggested that lunar volcanic activity had ceased around 2 billion years ago. However, this new evidence indicates that the Moon remained geologically active much longer than scientists had thought.
Understanding the timeline of lunar volcanism is crucial for comprehending the geological evolution of celestial bodies. This study not only revises the Moon's volcanic history but also opens new avenues for exploring the thermal dynamics of other planetary bodies.
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New study reveals moon volcanism continued until 120 million years ago
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