Chang'e-6 Mission Identifies New Magnetic Mineral in Lunar Soil

Scientists analyzing lunar soil from China's Chang'e-6 mission discovered a previously unknown magnetic mineral, face-centered cubic γ-Fe, within impact-glass particles. This nanoscale metallic iron can preserve a stable magnetic signal, providing a microscopic record of the Moon's ancient magnetic field. The findings, published in PNAS, offer new insights into lunar geological history.