China Discovers Two New Lunar Minerals in Chang'e-5 Samples
Summary: On April 24, 2026, at the ceremony for China's 11th Space Day, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced a major scientific achievement: two new lunar minerals — magnesium Chang'e stone and cerium Chang'e stone — were discovered in Chang'e-5 lunar samples. Both have been approved by the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA-CNMNC). These are China's's 2nd and 3rd lunar new minerals after the discovery of Chang'e Stone in 2022, and the 7th and 8th new minerals found in returned lunar regolith worldwide.
Credit: CNSA
On April 24, 2026, at the main ceremony for China's 11th Space Day held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, CNSA officially released the latest research findings from Chang'e-5 lunar samples. Chinese scientists discovered two new lunar minerals — magnesium Chang'e stone (ming-cha'e stone) and cerium Chang'e stone — both approved by the IMA-CNMNC.
Overview of the Two New Minerals
Magnesium Chang'e Stone (镁嫦娥石)
Discovered by the lunar regolith team led by Chief Scientist Li Ziying at the China National Nuclear Corporation's Beijing Geological Institute:
- Type: Rare earth phosphate mineral (whitlockite group)
- Crystal form: Prismatic crystals, subhedral to anhedral
- Occurrence: Found within basalt clasts in Chang'e-5 drill samples
- Grain size: Approximately 2 to 30 micrometers — about 1/30 to 1/3 the diameter of a human hair
- Composition: Similar to previously discovered Chang'e Stone, but enriched in magnesium and rare earth elements
Cerium Chang'e Stone (铈嫦娥石)
Discovered by the research team led by Academician Hou Zengqian at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences:
- Type: Calcium phosphate mineral rich in light rare earth element cerium
- Crystal form: Subhedral granular or euhedral prismatic, colorless and transparent, vitreous luster
- Occurrence: Found in both Chang'e-5 lunar samples and a lunar meteorite that fell in China; occurs at the edges of anorthite, ferropyxene, fluorapatite, and ilmenite
- Grain size: Approximately 3 to 15 micrometers
- Composition: Unlike Chang'e Stone (enriched in heavy rare earth yttrium), cerium Chang'e Stone is rich in light rare earth element cerium
Scientific Significance
The discovery of these two minerals is significant for several reasons:
- Lunar Science: Both minerals are rare earth phosphates hidden in lunar dust, measuring just a few micrometers in size, with exquisite crystal structures that have no exact counterparts on Earth
- Comparative Planetary Science: Both minerals belong to the whitlockite group, which is common in lunar, Martian, and asteroid samples but shows compositional diversity and heterogeneous distribution across different terrestrial bodies
- China's Leadership in Lunar Science: With these discoveries, China has now found 4 out of the 8 total new minerals discovered in returned lunar regolith globally, demonstrating China's leading position in international lunar science research
Discovery Teams
| Mineral | Team | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium Chang'e Stone | Beijing Geological Institute, CNNC | Chief Scientist Li Ziying |
| Cerium Chang'e Stone | Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences | Academician Hou Zengqian |
Background: April 24, 2026 marks China's 11th Space Day, themed "70 Years of Space Exploration, Together Exploring the Cosmos." This year celebrates the 70th anniversary of China's space industry. The discovery of new lunar minerals is a profound scientific gift to Space Day.