A new lunar material in the form of a crystal has been discovered by Chinese scientists in samples taken from the moon in 2020.
Changesite-(Y) is a phosphate mineral and columnar crystal that bears the name of Chang'e,
the lunar goddess of Chinese mythology. It was discovered in lunar basalt particles that were being analysed in Chinese facilities.
Researchers at the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology made the discovery after utilising X-ray
diffraction to examine particles gathered from the moon and finding a single crystal of Changesite-(Y).
On September 9, the discovery was made public during a press conference.
It was recognised as a new mineral by the International Mineralogical Association's (IMA's) Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification (CNMNC(opens in new tab)).