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Updated: Sep 9, 2025
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Simulating Imaging of Large Scale Radio Arrays on the Lunar Surface
Published on: July 30, 2020
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2.2-billion-year-old KREEP-rich volcanism on the Moon
Mu-Han Yang1, Qian W L Zhang2, Qiu-Li Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric and Environmental Coevolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Science Bulletin
|September 3, 2025
Summary
The youngest lunar meteorite reveals prolonged KREEP (potassium, rare earth elements, phosphorus) magmatism, extending its duration by 800 million years. This suggests episodic mantle processes fueled late-stage lunar volcanism.
Area of Science:
- Lunar geology
- Isotope geochemistry
- Planetary science
Background:
- The Moon's KREEP component is a key heat source for volcanism.
- Chang'e mission data questioned KREEP's role in late-stage volcanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the duration and source of lunar KREEP-related magmatism.
- Analyze the youngest known lunar meteorite to understand late-stage volcanism.
Main Methods:
- Geochemical and geochronological analysis of lunar meteorite NWA 16286.
- Compilation and analysis of isotopic data from lunar basalts.
Main Results:
- NWA 16286, dated at 2201 ± 13 million years ago, shows a KREEP-rich mantle source.
- This extends KREEP-related magmatism by ~800 million years.
- Lunar basalts exhibit three volcanic episodes with increasing U/Pb and decreasing Nd isotopes, indicating mantle convection.
Conclusions:
- Episodic mantle overturn or plume-driven upwelling triggered lunar volcanism.
- KREEP components were increasingly incorporated into basalt sources during younger volcanic episodes.
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