The Aporia · Scientists found a new magnetic mineral in Chang’e-6 Moon samples, preserved inside impact-glass particles

TOI Science Desk

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About 4.25 billion years ago, the Moon possessed a powerful core dynamo with a field strength comparable to or even exceeding modern Earth's. asserted

Moon → possess → Earth

This magnetic field, generated by circulating molten metal, completely shut down as the interior cooled and core crystallisation ceased, leaving the Moon without a global magnetic field in the present. asserted

crystallisation → generate → present

While it no longer generates a global magnetic field, traces of its ancient magnetism still remain locked inside lunar soil and rocks. asserted

traces → generate → soil

Scientists have been studying these magnetic minerals preserved in the soil in order to reconstruct how the Moon's magnetic environment changed over time. asserted

environment → study → time

Researchers analysing metallic iron inside impact glass from Chang'e-6 lunar soil have now identified a previously unknown magnetic mineral in natural Moon samples. asserted

Researchers → analyse → samples

They have identified it as a form of metallic iron called γ-Fe. asserted

They → identify → iron

Found inside tiny impact-glass particles, the nanoscale iron can preserve a stable magnetic signal, potentially acting like a microscopic fossil of the Moon’s long-lost magnetic field, as per the findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on September 16. asserted

iron → find → September

The study was led by Professor Haifeng Du of the High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). asserted

study → lead → Sciences

"This tiny magnetic fossil may help us better understand the Moon's ancient magnetic history," said Dr. Long Li from HFIPS, a member of the team. uncertain

Li → help → team

A rare iron phase hidden in lunar glass To examine the samples, the researchers used focused ion beam preparation, transmission electron microscopy, and chemical analysis. asserted

researchers → hide → preparation

These techniques revealed numerous nanoscale iron particles embedded throughout the glassy material. asserted

techniques → reveal → material

Closer examination showed that some of the particles consisted of face-centred cubic γ-Fe. asserted

some → show → Fe

In fact, γ-Fe was the dominant form of iron in the two impact-glass samples studied. asserted

Fe → study → samples

As the material cools, it typically changes into another form known as α-Fe. asserted

it → cool → Fe

The researchers found evidence that the unusual conditions produced by impacts on the Moon may allow γ-Fe to survive at the lunar surface. uncertain

Fe → find → surface

They proposed that several factors could help stabilise the structure, including small amounts of carbon and other elements, the rapid cooling of molten material created during an impact, and protection from the surrounding glassy matrix. uncertain

factors → propose → matrix

The team also used off-axis electron holography to investigate the magnetic behaviour of individual γ-Fe nanoparticles. asserted

team → use → nanoparticles

They found that relatively large γ-Fe particles could form a stable single-vortex magnetic state. uncertain

particles → find → state

The particles also retained a consistent magnetic response when exposed to an external magnetic field. asserted

particles → retain → field

This stability suggests that γ-Fe could act as a previously unrecognised recorder of magnetic information in lunar material, holding clues to conditions that existed in the moon's past. uncertain

that → suggest → past

A magnetic past This discovery has broadened the known variety of magnetic minerals found in lunar samples. asserted

discovery → broaden → samples

Since γ-Fe and α-Fe form under different conditions and behave differently magnetically, each could potentially record information from separate stages of lunar impact events. uncertain

each → form → events

According to scientists, future research is required to determine exactly how much these minerals can reveal about the moon's ancient magnetic field and how it evolved over time. uncertain

it → accord → time

Scientists found a new magnetic mineral in Chang’e-6 Moon samples, preserved inside impact-glass particles

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