South Pole–Aitken massive impact 4.25 billion years ago revealed by Chang'e-6 samples

ABSTRACT As the largest and oldest well-preserved impact structure on the Moon, the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin on the lunar farside is critical for understanding early solar system dynamics and lunar history, but accurately determining its age remains challenging. Crater-counting chronology and Apollo sample studies propose various SPA-forming ages, which require validation by in situ sampling of the SPA basin. Here, we present the petrology, geochemistry and chronology of norite clasts from the SPA basin that were returned by Chang'e-6. These norites have highly anorthite-rich, rare-earth element-poor plagioclase and magnesium-rich pyroxene, in contrast to Mg-suite norites that were returned from the lunar…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 42225301