Chinese Scientists Discover New Lunar Mineral Magnesiochangesite-(Ce)

Key facts

• Chinese scientists discovered a new lunar mineral named Magnesiochangesite-(Ce) in a Moon meteorite.
• The mineral was certified and named by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA).
• This discovery brings the total number of known lunar minerals worldwide to 11.
• China and the United States (US) are now equal in the number of identified minerals originating from the Moon, with four discoveries each.
• Magnesiochangesite-(Ce) is a rare earth-bearing phosphate mineral that is colourless, transparent, and glows when exposed to UV light.
• The mineral was found in a 44-gram lunar meteorite named Pakepake 005, which was discovered in 2024 in the Taklamakan Desert.
• The discovery was made using a high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer produced by the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS).