Scientists studying Chang’e-6 lunar soil have discovered a previously unknown magnetic mineral in natural Moon samples: a form of metallic iron called γ-Fe. 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. Chang’e-6 lunar soil contains a surprising magnetic time capsule.
By studying the magnetic minerals preserved in these materials, scientists can reconstruct how the Moon’s magnetic environment changed over time. Researchers analyzing metallic iron inside impact glass from Chang’e-6 lunar soil have now identified face-centered cubic γ-Fe for the first time in natural lunar samples. Haifeng Du of the High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on September 16. "This tiny magnetic fossil may help us better understand the Moon’s ancient magnetic history," said Dr. 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.
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