Moon’s Volcanic Past Rewritten by Meteorite Discovery

Youngest Lunar Basalt Fills Major Geological Gap

A recently unearthed lunar meteorite, Northwest Africa 16286, is offering scientists an unprecedented glimpse into a previously unknown era of the Moon’s geological history.

New Meteorite Sheds Light on Lunar Volcanism

The discovery of Northwest Africa 16286, found in Africa in 2023, has provided the scientific community with a lunar meteorite estimated to be 2.35 billion years old. This remarkable find fills a significant void in our understanding of the Moon’s volcanic activity, bridging a gap of nearly a billion years not represented in samples from past lunar missions.

Goldschmidt Science making the news!
“Youngest basaltic lunar meteorite fills nearly one billion-year gap in Moon’s volcanic history” https://t.co/NKNnwLtYIN: https://t.co/lkl2ugcnRO#Goldschmidt2025 talk by Snape et al. “Northwest Africa 16286…”: https://t.co/OZPOQnZ7IA pic.twitter.com/95fHMndJIs

— Goldschmidt2025 (@goldschmidt2025) July 9, 2025

Researchers from the University of Manchester presented their findings at the prestigious Goldschmidt Conference, identifying the rock as the youngest basalt of lunar origin discovered on Earth. Its unique geochemistry distinguishes it from all previously analyzed lunar materials.

The meteorite features olivine crystals, moderate titanium levels, and high potassium concentrations. These characteristics suggest it formed from the solidification of lava erupted from deep within the Moon. Isotopic analysis indicates a prolonged period of internal lunar heat, sustained by radioactive element decay longer than previously estimated.

“The age of this rock is especially significant because it fills a vacuum of almost one billion years in the volcanic history of the moon.”

—Joshua Snape, Lead Investigator

Joshua Snape further elaborated, stating, “It is younger than the basalts collected by the Apollo, Luna and Chang’e 6 missions but older than the samples brought by the Chang’e 5.”

Cosmic Journey to Earth

This 311-gram fragment was ejected from the lunar surface by a powerful impact event, likely caused by an asteroid, and subsequently traveled to Earth. The rock exhibits internal fractures and molten glass areas, clear evidence of the intense shock it endured.

The serendipitous arrival of this meteorite via impact offers a geological perspective on unexplored lunar regions. Such events, though rare, are invaluable for understanding distant lunar areas without the need for costly space missions. For example, the study of meteorites has contributed significantly to our understanding of Earth’s early atmosphere, similar to how these lunar samples are now informing lunar science (NASA).

As Snape noted in a press release, “This type of rock forces us to rethink when and how volcanism took place on the moon. There is still much to discover about the geological history of the satellite and this sample can guide us towards key regions for future investigations.”