New Mineral Discovered on Moon Could Unlock Unlimited Energy, Scientists Reveal

Islamabad, Jan 27: The discovery of a new mineral on the Moon, Changesite-(Y, a phosphate mineral), represents a groundbreaking development in lunar exploration and could have significant future implications, including the potential for unlimited energy sources. Here’s a summary of the key points:

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1. New Mineral Discovery: Changesite-(Y) is a clear, colorless phosphate crystal discovered in lunar basalt particles collected from the northwest part of Oceanus Procellarum. The mineral was identified through meticulous efforts by scientists using specialized tools and techniques.
2. Method of Discovery: The crystal, about 10 microns in size, was extracted from lunar samples and analyzed over two months. Advanced methods like X-ray diffraction were employed to study its structure and separate it from over 140,000 other lunar samples.
3. China’s Achievement: This discovery marks the sixth new mineral found on the Moon and places China as the third country (after the U.S. and the former Soviet Union) to make such a discovery. This achievement contributes to the understanding of the Moon’s geological history and origin.
4. Geological Context: The lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission were from an area that is around 1 billion years younger than where previous lunar missions, including those by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, gathered samples. This provides new insights into the Moon’s geological evolution.
5. Implications for Energy: While Changesite-(Y) is primarily a mineral of scientific interest, its unique properties could make it a potential resource for energy generation in the future, although further research is needed to understand its practical applications.
6. Lunar Space Race: China’s Chang’e-5 mission in 2020 marked the first lunar sample return in over 40 years, and this discovery adds to the ongoing competition between the U.S. and China over the Moon’s resources. China is planning three more Moon missions, intensifying the geopolitical and scientific race to explore and utilize lunar resources.

This mineral discovery could play a key role in shaping future lunar exploration and the use of the Moon’s resources, furthering our understanding of the Moon’s history and potentially opening new avenues for energy generation.

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