Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Over long timescales, space weathering processes can modify the compositions of surface materials on the Moon. To assess the effects of space weathering of lunar soils, we study Si isotopes of Chang’E-5 (CE-5) and Chang’E-6 (CE-6) returned samples, and lunar meteorites. Both bulk soils from CE-5 and CE-6 exhibit heavier Si isotopic compositions than the basalt clasts within the soils and lunar meteorites, indicating that the space weathering obviously increase δ30Si of lunar soils. Furthermore, the CE-6 soil from the lunar farside has heavier Si isotopic values than the CE-5 soils from the nearside, suggesting that the CE-6 soil has experienced a higher space weathering degree than the CE-5 soils. This increased weathering degree could be attributed to either a longer weathering period or stronger micrometeorite impacts on CE-6 soil from farside compared to CE-5 soils from nearside.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Hui-Yan Zhang, Hui-Min Yu, Hao-Lan Tang, Yu-Chao Lin, Zicong Xiao, Lin Yang, Jin-Ting Kang, Ji Shen, Liping Qin, Fang Huang
Language: English
Topic: Astro and Planetary Science
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: G2210617803, G4176461094, G4884210938
OpenAlex ID: W4410158012