Tiny iron oxide grains found in lunar soil samples brought by the Chinese Chang’e-6 mission upend what was known about the Moon’s surface and magnetic properties, scientists revealed in a new study.
Until now, the Moon has been thought to have an environment that did not favour the oxidation of elements, and iron oxides were thought to be virtually absent.
Consistent with this, iron on the Moon has been found mostly in its reduced forms, without any added oxygen.
Recent exploration missions have hinted at the widespread presence of the magnetic iron-oxide mineral hematite in the Moon's high