The Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology said the crystals, named magnesiochangesite-(Y) and changesite-(Ce), were found in samples from China’s 2020 lunar return mission.
Researchers said the tiny grains preserve chemical differences that could help explain how the Moon’s magma ocean cooled, melted and separated rare earth elements during rock formation.
The approvals make them the seventh and eighth new minerals confirmed from returned lunar samples, but scientists said the microscopic finds do not indicate near-term lunar mining potential.
How will these mineral discoveries guide China's upcoming Chang'e-7 south pole mission?
Could the new luminescent Moon mineral be synthesized on Earth for advanced technologies?
Do new Moon minerals prove our models of planetary formation are fundamentally incomplete?
Breakthrough in Lunar Geology: Two New Rare-Earth Phosphate Minerals Discovered on the Moon
Overview
On May 4, 2026, Chinese scientists announced the discovery of two new lunar minerals, magnesiochangesite-(Y) and changesite-(Ce), identified in samples returned by the Chang'e 5 mission in 2020. These minerals have unique crystal structures not found on Earth and show enrichment in light rare earth elements, revealing regional variations in the Moon's early magmatic history. Changesite-(Ce) was also found in a lunar meteorite from 2024, confirming its lunar origin. Despite their microscopic size limiting economic use, these minerals highlight the Moon's potential as a resource base and drive future exploration missions, positioning China as a leader in space resource research.