Taxus Baccata

by | Mar 15, 2018 | Taxus Baccata

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Changesite-(Y), with the chemical formula (Ca8Y)□Fe2+(PO4)7,[2] is a mineral found forming colorless transparent columnar crystals[3] in basalt particles on the Moon.[4] Changesite-(Y) is a member of the merrillite[5] group of phosphate minerals.[5][6][3]

History

Changesite-(Y) was first identified by researchers at the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology. They discovered a single crystal of Changesite–(Y) using X-ray diffraction while examining particles collected from the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program's fifth lunar exploration mission, Chang'e 5, which is also China's first sample-return mission to the Moon.[7] The mineral is named after Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology.[6] China National Space Administration and China Atomic Energy Authority jointly announced the discovery of Changesite-(Y) in Beijing on September 9, 2022, and its recognition has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association and its Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. The discovery also makes China the third country to discover a new lunar mineral after the United States and former Soviet Union.[2][8][7]

Application

Changesite-(Y) contains the element Helium-3, which is useful in fueling nuclear fusion reactions.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Changesite-(Y)". Mindat. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  2. ^ a b Miyawaki, Ritsuro; Hatert, Frédéric; Pasero, Marco; Mills, Stuart J. (19 October 2022). "IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 69". European Journal of Mineralogy. 34 (5): 463–468. Bibcode:2022EJMin..34..463M. doi:10.5194/ejm-34-463-2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "China Focus: Chinese scientists discover new lunar mineral". News.cn. Xinhua. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  4. ^ Faisal Khan (10 October 2022). "'Changesite'-(Y) is the sixth new mineral discovered on the Moon". Medium. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Zaho, Lei (2022-09-09). "Chinese scientists discover new mineral on the moon". chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  6. ^ a b Tamim, Baba (2022-09-09). "China claims discovery of a new mineral on the moon for the first time". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  7. ^ a b published, Andrew Jones (2022-09-12). "China discovers new moon mineral in lunar samples". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  8. ^ "China discovers new mineral on Moon". The Hepburn Advocate. Australian Associated Press. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  9. ^ Kristin Houser (25 September 2022). "China has discovered a brand new moon mineral". Free Think. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ "China has returned helium-3 from the moon, opening door to future technology". The Hill. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
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