¹Fanli Lin, ¹Jiansheng Wang, ¹Huaiyuan Wang, ¹Kaijie Dai, ^1,2Kun Ding, ^1,2Zhiping He, ¹Qingli Li
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2026JE009952
Link to Article [DOI: 10.1029/2026JE009952]
¹Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multidimensional Information Processing, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
²Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

The Chang’e-5 lunar regolith samples are returned samples of young mare basalt, possessing significant scientific research value. This paper performs nondestructive analysis on one of the Chang’e-5 basalt samples using scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Through the analysis of the mineralogical characteristics, modal abundance, and impact effects of the sample, it is found that the sample is relatively consistent in composition with most Chang’e-5 lunar regolith samples, being low-titanium mare basalt that has undergone a certain degree of impact events. The analysis of quartz and plagioclase indicates that the impact pressure experienced by the young mare basalt is limited to a maximum of 20–25 GPa, with a minimum impact pressure of at least 5.2 GPa. Additionally, both this sample and the Chang’e-5 lunar regolith samples should likely originate from a low-titanium magma source, which may possibly have formed through the partial melting of a mixed magma composed of early refractory cumulates and late ilmenite-bearing cumulates, followed by fractional crystallization in a shallow magma reservoir before being erupted onto the lunar surface, and is compositionally distinct from Apollo and CE-6 basalts as an evolved, low-Ti late-stage basalts. This research can provide mineralogical evidence for understanding the thermal evolution of the Moon, particularly the late-stage volcanic activity and internal thermodynamic changes.

^1,2Shun Wang, ^1,2Yue Teng, ³Yifei Cui, ³Ao Luo, ^1,2Dianqing Li
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2026JE009810
Link to Article [DOI: 10.1029/2026JE009810]
¹State Key Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
²School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering Risk and Disaster Prevention, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
³Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

Lunar agglutinates, which are glass-rich aggregates formed through space weathering, are a key constituent of lunar regolith and strongly influence its engineering properties. This study develops a high-fidelity agglutinate simulant via high-temperature vacuum sintering, yielding particle morphology and chemical composition similar to those of Chang’e-5 samples. The effects of key sintering parameters, including temperature, binder fraction, structural support agent content, and dwell time, on the microstructure and single-particle compression strength are investigated. Furthermore, a new lunar regolith simulant (WHU-1A) is produced by incorporating different agglutinates, and its mechanical response is assessed through angle-of-repose and small-scale triaxial tests. The results demonstrate that, under controlled density conditions, agglutinate characteristics significantly influence regolith mechanical behavior. Weakly bonded agglutinates induce a limited increase in shear strength, whereas extensively melted agglutinates markedly enhance shear strength but also promote strain softening. This coupled strengthening–softening effect is most pronounced in specimens with high glass content.