Objective:

To analyze the geochemical properties of basalt clasts from the Moon’s far side and understand the impact of the South Pole–Aitken basin formation on the Moon's interior.

Key Findings:

• Chang’e-6 basalts exhibited δ⁴¹K values higher than Apollo mare basalts by approximately 0.16 percent.
• The heavy potassium isotopic signatures suggest significant volatile loss due to the SPA basin-forming impact.
• Other potential influences on potassium isotopes were found to be minor and insufficient to explain the observed enrichment.

Interpretation:

The findings indicate that the SPA basin-forming impact significantly modified the lunar mantle, supporting the hypothesis that large-scale impacts have played a crucial role in the Moon's geological evolution and asymmetry.

Limitations:

• The study is based on a limited number of basalt clasts from the Chang’e-6 mission.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of the findings on lunar geology.

Conclusion:

The research provides robust evidence for impact-induced modification of the lunar mantle, highlighting the importance of large impacts in shaping the Moon's geological features.