• Date:
  • Category: Tech

Based on official announcements from Chinese authorities, here is an introduction to the latest discoveries of new lunar minerals.

According to the China National Space Administration, two new minerals were discovered in lunar samples returned by the Chang'e-5 mission, and the findings were released on April 24, 2026 .

The Two New Minerals

1. Magnesio-Changesite (镁嫦娥石)
This mineral was found in the basalt debris drilled from the lunar surface. It is a calcium rare-earth phosphate mineral, rich in magnesium and rare-earth elements. It appears as columnar crystals with particle sizes ranging from only 2 to 30 micrometers .

2. Cerium-Changesite (铈嫦娥石)
This new mineral is rich in the element cerium. According to Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of China's planetary exploration project, Cerium-Changesite records a product from a different stage of lunar evolution, allowing scientists to better understand the moon's formation history .

With the addition of these two discoveries, China has now identified a total of three new minerals from the Chang'e-5 lunar samples, significantly enriching the library of known lunar minerals .

Additionally, an earlier discovery was announced on April 22, 2026, by the China Geological Survey: a separate new lunar mineral named Cerium-Magnesium Changesite (铈镁嫦娥石) was found in the "Pakepake 005" lunar meteorite discovered in the Taklamakan Desert . This is the 11th lunar mineral discovered globally and the first found in a lunar meteorite recovered in China .

The discoveries bring China's tally of identified lunar minerals to four, tying with the United States for the most lunar mineral discoveries in the world .

Researchers note that these minerals provide important clues about lunar volcanic activity and the evolution of the moon. They also have potential application value, such as in the development of new synthetic luminescent materials .