China has announced the discovery of two new minerals from lunar samples collected by its Chang’e-5 mission. The country’s state media reported the finding on Friday, citing the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The minerals, named Magnesiochangesite-(Y) and Changesite-(Ce), were identified from samples brought back to Earth in December 2020. The Chang’e-5 mission returned with about 1,731 grams of lunar soil, marking China’s first collected lunar sample and the first brought to Earth in 44 years.

According to CNSA, the announcement was made at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Space Day of China in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The International Mineralogical Association’s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification has officially approved the two new minerals. With this discovery, the total number of known lunar minerals worldwide has increased to eight.

China previously discovered a lunar mineral named Changesite-(Y) in 2022, and its continued lunar exploration follows earlier milestones such as the Chang’e-4 probe’s historic landing on the moon’s far side in 2019.