Influence of Mineral Content on Angle of Repose on the Far Side of Moon: Insight From Laboratory and Numerical Approach Based on Chang'e 6 Samples

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Authors: Xu Chuansheng, Yifei Cui, Ao Luo, Guodong Wang, Lü Jing, Jiayan Nie
Cited by: 1
References: 72

Abstract

Abstract Lunar lithic fragments (micrometer–millimeter scale) mainly consist of basalt, breccia, agglutinates, leucocratic fragments, and glass. Their morphology, surface properties, and frictional behavior fundamentally control the mechanical characteristics of lunar regolith, which can be effectively characterized by the angle of repose (AoR)—a simple and intuitive parameter obtained through rapid experiments that reflects the frictional, flow, and stability features of granular materials. This study analyzes five representative lithic fragment types from Chang'e−6 samples (30 particles) to investigate how morphology, surface energy, and friction jointly influence the AoR and develops a predictive model coupling multi‐scale particle parameters. Results show that for particles larger than 200 μm, complex shapes (Overall regularity 0.6) and high friction coefficients (0.55) increase AoR by 10°–20° through enhanced interlocking. For smaller particles, surface energy dominates interparticle forces but is constrained by surface roughness, reducing its effective range. Under lunar gravity, the effects of morphology and friction are weakened, and the threshold size separating friction‐shape‐dominated and adhesion‐dominated regimes shifts from ∼100 μm on Earth to ∼200 μm on the Moon. In coarse‐grained assemblages, agglutinates dominate the variation in AoR, while glass content is weakly negatively correlated with it. The model reveals intrinsic mechanisms of lunar soil behavior and provides a theoretical basis for regolith handling and construction in future lunar missions.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Planetary Science and Exploration Granular flow and fluidized beds Soil Mechanics and Vehicle Dynamics

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Volume
131
Issue
7
Publication date
1 July 2026
Language
EN