New research on the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 reveals potential existence of original lunar cloak material

In a new discovery, scientists from the Physics Research Laboratory (PRL) revealed that the landing point for the Chandrayaan-3 mission (Shiv Shakti Point) is a promising location that can access original mantle samples that would otherwise be lacking in existing lunar collections.

The scientists used an Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) to analyze the concentration of volatile elements measured by Shakti Station near the Antarctic region on the Pragyan Rover of the task.

“Comparison of APX compared with the abundance measured by other available data, found depletion anomalies of sodium and potassium, but enriched in sulfur in soil at highland landing sites,” ISRO said.

The study was published in the Journal Nature communicates with the earth and the environment.

It added: “This study reveals the potential existence of the original lunar mantle material at the landing site, which is 4.3 GA excavated during the formation of the Antarctic-Aitken (SPA) basin and is redistributed due to subsequent effects on Spa Basin ejecta.”

It further said that the original mantle contributes excess sulfur, which is mixed with the material at the landing site.

“The low level and potassium levels at the landing site indicate that there may be no kreep (potassium, rare earth elements and phosphorus) at the location and time of formation of the hot spring basin,” it said.

The APXS payload also measured the abundance of volatile elements, including sodium, potassium and sulfur in highland soils, with reported concentrations of 700-2,800 ppm, 300-400 ppm and 900-1,400 ppm, respectively, and 900-1,400 ppm, respectively.

PRL scientists made a detailed analysis of the abundances of these volatile elements and found the concentrations of sodium and potassium at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site was found to be much lower compared that found in the soil samples from lunar highlands in earlier missions (Apollo 16 and Luna 20), while the concentration of sulfur was found to be 300-500 ppm higher than in soils from Apollo 16 and Luna 20.

“The abnormal differences in the concentrations of these volatile elements make it important to study the concentrations of possible sources that may lead to their enrichment or depletion at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site,” ISRO said.

These findings make the Chandrayaan-3 landing site a promising place for future missions to collect samples, especially studying early evolution of the moon.