Transcrystalline Fracture of Minerals on the Moon

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the mechanical mode from an atomic-level experimental observation and theoretical analysis of microfracture of minerals on the Moon. This vivid case comes from the focused anorthite in the Chang'e-5 lunar soil samples, where microstructural evidence reveals transcrystalline fracture patterns and localized amorphous domains that may correlate with high-velocity impacts. Such findings are crucial for revealing the extreme occurrence of the early Moon via the paradigm of materials science, i.e., coincidence with the collision and impact on the Moon. Thus, it may enrich our understanding of the Moon's evolution and thereby inspire future studies of relevant extraterrestrial bodies.