Volcanoes once erupted on the far side of the moon

BBC ^ | 11/16/2024 | Tiffany Wertheimer

[BenLurkin]

Analysis of samples collected by a Chinese mission found basalt (volcanic rock formed after an eruption) fragments dating back more than 4.2 billion years.

The findings were published in the Nature and Science journals on Friday.

While scientists already knew of volcanic activity on the near side of the moon, which we can see from Earth, the "dark side" is very different in its geology, and remains largely unexplored.

The rock and dust samples - the first to be retrieved from the far side of the Moon - were collected by the Chang’e-6 spacecraft, following a nearly two-month long mission which was fraught with risks.

Led by experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers used radiometric dating to determine the age of the volcanic rock.

Their analysis also revealed a "surprisingly young" eruption occurred some 2.83 billion years ago, something which has not been found on the near side of the Moon.

[left that other site]

If Pink Floyd and L. Ron Hubbard had a baby.....

[BenLurkin]

Nice.

[left that other site]

Merci Beucoups!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

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[simpson96]

BBC thinks this is some kind of revelation? When there are lava basins over much of the moon’s surfaces?

[voicereason]

fragments dating back more than 4.2 billion years

Like they really know. Seems like an awful lot of guesswork in the 'science' anymore.

[George J. Jetso]

I always liked The Far Side comic strip. The UFO and alien strips were quite funny.

[SunkenCiv]

• Geology is racist as it is 'linked to white supremacy' claims Queen Mary University of London professor [11/17/2024]
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[minnesota_bound]

This is what happens when planets collide and the fragment coalesce into a moon.