Jingyou Chen

Despite the Moon being Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor, many questions about its geology remain unanswered. Recently, China’s Chang’e-5 (2020) and Chang’e-6 (2024) missions returned new basaltic samples, allowing us to make major advances in understanding the Moon’s geologic evolution. Background Since the dawn of humanity, our Moon has captured human interest, particularly with regard to its origin and evolution.

Data Availability Statement The data supporting the results of this study are available in the main text and supporting information (text and table). Supporting Information Filename Description maps70075-sup-0001-Figures.docxWord 2007 document , 2.1 MB Figure S1. Hand specimen photo of DUQ. Figure S2. Raman spectrum of silica polymorphs. Figures S3–S4. EBSD patterns of a local region of metal host. Figures S5–S7. EBSD patterns of Kamacite polygonization domains. Figure S8. EBSD patten of comb plessite.

Abstract The early impact flux recorded by the Moon, especially the first billion years during the basin-forming epoch, is pivotal to understanding the evolution of inner Solar System bodies. However, our current understanding of this critical epoch is impeded by the lack of samples that have a clear provenance from specific ancient impact basins. Here we examine three impact-melt clasts in the Chang’e-6 lunar regolith collected from the Apollo basin within the gigantic South Pole–Aitken basin.