Planetary science: New analysis of Apollo sample illuminates the Moon's evolution

 
A new analysis of lunar rock samples from the Apollo 17 mission will be published in Nature Communications, reporting the results.This finding provides new information on the complex cooling and evolutionary history of the Moon.

In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts collected a rock sample (Troctolite 76535) from the surface of the Moon.Due to its primitive nature, Troctrite 76535 continues to be one of the most scientifically valuable lunar samples.

Now William Nelson and colleagues have investigated the Troctrite 76535 using the latest high-resolution analytical techniques.Phosphorus concentrations in rocks were measured and found to be consistent with the history of diffusion patterns conserved in mineral particles that rapidly cooled to approximately 2000 million years at high temperatures.This finding casts doubt on previous estimates of a cooling period of 1 million years, supporting the theory that magma in the lunar crust cooled rapidly in the early stages. Nelson et al. State that the findings suggest that the history of the early evolution and cooling of the Moon is more complex than previously thought.This study demonstrates the value of revisiting previously collected lunar samples and how quickly our understanding of planetary evolution changes with newly obtained data.

In the co-published Comment, Tabb Prissel and Kelsey Prissel further emphasize the importance of revisiting previously collected lunar samples using new analytical techniques.They also provide prospects for current or upcoming sampling missions to further elucidate the history of the Moon.

 
* This article is reprinted from "Nature Japan Featured Highlights".
Reprinted from: "Planetary Science: Reanalysis of lunar samples collected by Apollo 17 provides clues to the evolution of the moon'