The study uncovers two significant basaltic volcanism periods on the lunar farside, providing evidence that volcanic activity persisted for over 1.4 billion years despite changes in source characteristics.
We found that a high-Al basalt fragment dated back to approximately 4.2 billion years, indicating a KREEP-rich source, marking the oldest known volcanism from lunar samples.
The younger basalt erupted around 2.8 billion years ago, reflecting a KREEP-poor mantle source distinct from the older samples and highlighting the moon's complex volcanic history.
This research challenges previous assumptions of lunar volcanism by establishing a timeline for eruptions on the farside, which has different source attributes compared to the nearside.
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