Changesite – (Y), named after the mythological Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, is a phosphate mineral and columnar crystal. It was found in lunar basalt particles examined in laboratories in China. The discovery was made by researchers at the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, who found a single Changesite-(Y) crystal using X-ray diffraction while studying particles collected on the moon. The finding was announced at a press conference on September 9. The Committee on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC (opens in new tab)) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) confirmed it as a new mineral, according (opens in new tab) at Chinese state media Global Times. The discovery marks China as the third country to discover a new lunar mineral, after the United States and the former Soviet Union, which carried out the Apollo crewed lunar landing missions and the Luna sample return missions, respectively. The Change 5 The mission landed on Oceanus Procellarum in December 2020 and was the first lunar sample return mission since the 1970s. The mission collected 3.81 pounds (1.73 kg) of lunar samples and delivered them safely on Earth for study, leading to a series of discoveries. China’s next mission to the moon is expected to be Change 6. It will try to collect the first samples from the far side of the moon that never sees Earth. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or enabled Facebook (opens in a new tab).
