Scientists have long theorized that the Moon was once covered by a vast ocean of molten rock. Now, new research based on samples from the far side of the Moon provides the strongest evidence yet that this theory is correct.
The findings offer crucial insights into the formation and evolution of Earth’s only natural satellite.
Lunar Samples Confirm Magma Ocean Theory
As reported by Digi24, a joint research team organized by China’s National Space Administration (CNSA) analyzed samples collected by the Chang’e-6 mission. The mission, which landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin in 2024, retrieved 1,935 grams of lunar material—the first ever collected from the Moon’s far side.
Scientists found that the composition of basaltic rock from both the near and far sides of the Moon is strikingly similar.
The basalt in the new samples is estimated to be 2.8 billion years old and supports the long-standing hypothesis of a lunar magma ocean.
According to the study, early in its formation, the Moon experienced widespread melting, creating a global magma ocean.
As this molten layer cooled and crystallized, lighter minerals rose to the surface, forming the lunar crust, while denser materials sank to create the mantle.
New Insights from the Far Side of the Moon
Until now, all lunar samples analyzed came from the Moon’s near side, leaving gaps in the magma ocean theory.
"Without samples from the far side, it was like solving a puzzle with half the pieces missing," explained Liu Dunyi, a lead researcher on the project.
The new analysis revealed that the far side of the Moon also contains a key geological layer known as KREEP, which includes potassium (K), rare earth elements (REE), and phosphorus (P). This discovery strengthens the argument that a global magma ocean once covered the entire Moon.
The Impact of Asteroid Collisions
The study also suggests that large asteroid impacts, particularly the one that created the South Pole-Aitken Basin 4.3 billion years ago, played a major role in altering the Moon’s mantle.
"While the Moon was once covered by a global magma ocean, later asteroid bombardments caused different evolutionary paths for the near and far sides," said Long Tao, another lead researcher.
With this discovery, scientists hope to further study how these early impacts influenced not just the Moon, but also the Earth’s own history—much of which remains hidden due to tectonic activity. The CNSA has pledged to continue lunar exploration and share its findings with the international scientific community.
