Chapter 135: The Six-Crystal Meteorite Diamond

Around 2 p.m. on October 4, 2019, five astronauts who had landed on the Moon successfully returned to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, bringing back a substantial collection of lunar samples. Among them, Nan Junpeng and Li Yang chose to remain temporarily at the lunar base, while Wang Zhong and Yang Xing decided to stay aboard the “Moon Palace” space station for the time being.

These four did not return to Earth this time; their return was postponed by a week to await the arrival of the next group of astronauts who would replace them on the Moon. Their expected return date was October 10.

It was clear that China was preparing to regularly organize shuttle flights between Earth and the Moon. Establishing a permanent lunar base was no trivial matter; it required a routine, with shuttles traveling back and forth every week to continuously transport personnel and supplies to the Moon.

The successful return of Xiao Mingguang, Yu Haitian, Lan Yu, Liu Qi, and Ouyang Hao sparked widespread jubilation across China. This signified a complete triumph in the manned lunar mission—not only was landing on the Moon achieved, but the return journey was also smooth and successful. From now on, the Moon was essentially China’s backyard, accessible at will.

However, the celebration ceremony was not held immediately, as four other space heroes were still on the Moon. Only after all four had returned to Earth would the official victory celebration take place.

Although the ceremony was delayed, the vast quantities of lunar rock, soil, and other samples they brought back were promptly handed over to scientists. Many advanced scientific instruments on Earth could not be transported into space, so experts could conduct detailed analyses on these samples to obtain more precise and comprehensive information.

For instance, the rare earth content in lunar basalt, the difficulty of mining, the value and extraction methods of ilmenite—all these details were crucial for the next phase of lunar mining. Only by thoroughly understanding these aspects could future lunar development be targeted and efficient.

The most attention naturally fell on the enormous crystal discovered by Ouyang Hao. Once it arrived on Earth, China quickly assembled a team of scientists who employed a variety of instruments to analyze it. Their conclusion was astonishing: it was a rare hexagonal crystal meteorite diamond.

Simply put, this hexagonal crystal meteorite diamond is known as a lonsdaleite. Globally, only two such specimens exist—one held by the United States and the other now in China. The mineral was named after Lonsdale, the first to discover this material.

Diamonds (carbon content over 90%) on Earth exhibit four diffraction lines under light diffraction tests. This hexagonal crystal diamond, however, shows six diffraction lines, distinguishing it from terrestrial diamonds and confirming it as an extraterrestrial gem. In layman’s terms, it is a diamond from outer space. The Chinese specimen is valued at 25 million US dollars.

It is worth noting that the American hexagonal diamond weighs only 43.03 carats and has a purity far below that of the one found on the Moon. Back in 2003, its valuation was already at 25 million dollars; today, its worth has surpassed 50 million.

The hexagonal crystal meteorite diamond discovered by Ouyang Hao on the Moon is of far greater purity and immense volume, weighing over four tons—no longer measured in carats. Its estimated market value exceeds 50 billion US dollars. Of course, this is a mere market estimate.

The notion that anyone would actually pay 50 billion dollars is unrealistic, and China has no intention of selling it. Instead, it plans to display the gem at the China Aerospace Museum as a promotional centerpiece, naming it “Moonlight.”

This enormous hexagonal meteorite diamond is more than just a gem; in darkness, it emits a brilliant and dazzling glow akin to a moonlit pearl. This luminous quality is one key reason behind its astronomical valuation of 50 billion dollars.

For China as a whole, whether “Moonlight” is sold or cut is no longer significant. What matters is that everyone now recognizes its value—50 billion dollars. To put this in perspective, China’s peak foreign currency reserves once reached only about 4 trillion dollars, equivalent to the value of eight such “Moonlights.”

Countless people couldn’t help but dream: if they could discover a similar gem on the Moon, even 500 million dollars would be life-changing wealth overnight.

Across China, discussions about lunar treasure hunting surged. The government announced that by early next year, when conditions became favorable, the Moon would be formally opened to the public for tourism, mining, exploration, and other activities.

This announcement further fueled China’s expansionist ambitions. The Moon’s abundant resources and treasures greatly stimulated private capital and enterprise. If the policy document released at the beginning of 2019 was merely a start, this lunar discovery had deeply captivated the nation.

It is worth noting that astronauts only searched briefly near the lunar base before finding the “Moonlight” hexagonal meteorite diamond valued at 50 billion dollars. There are countless similar meteorite craters and celestial treasures scattered across the Moon, suggesting it is a trove filled with riches.

From media outlets to online headlines, from the upper echelons of society to ordinary citizens, all eyes in China were now fixed on the Moon. Information about lunar seas and key landmarks spread so widely that even many elementary school students could recite them.

The nation’s spirit and capital began to mobilize. Those privy to insider information sensed that China’s leadership intended to stimulate space development. The Moon would surely be developed commercially in the future, with lunar exploration, tourism, and mining soon emerging. The present was preparation; the future promised prosperity.

China planned a grand exhibition showcasing the vast collection of lunar rocks and soil samples brought back, prominently featuring the “Moonlight” diamond. This exhibition aimed to ignite the nation’s passion for space exploration.

On October 7, the leader of the Polar Bear nation visited China. During warm talks between the two leaders, the Chinese leader proudly showcased China’s tremendous achievements in space and generously gifted a 10-pound lunar basalt rock to the Polar Bear leader.

Gifting stones as national-level presents was once a hallmark of the United States. On a previous occasion, China had offered precious gifts to the United States as a symbol of friendship, but the American return gift included merely a one-gram sample of lunar rock.

Though the one-gram rock was valuable and costly to retrieve from the Moon, it was undeniably a modest gift. At the time, this was seen as a way for the United States to assert its strength.

Now, China’s leader emulated the United States by gifting lunar stones—but unlike the stingy one-gram token, China’s present was generous: a hefty 10 pounds of lunar basalt.

The national treasure, Guo Bao Gun Gun, was naturally indignant, protesting, “I was supposed to be the gift, not mere stones!”

China’s ability to generously present 10 pounds of lunar basalt stemmed from the vast quantity of samples brought back by the “Houyi” spacecraft—far exceeding what the United States collected during its Apollo missions. Furthermore, with frequent future lunar missions planned, such generosity was sustainable.

Had China used lunar landing modules similar to those of the United States’ Apollo missions, the amount of rock they could carry would be limited, and they might have been as stingy as the Americans.

Currently, across China, from top government officials boasting about space triumphs during international meetings—casually gifting lunar rocks—to ordinary citizens proudly celebrating their country’s strength, lunar achievements have become a national pride.

Meanwhile, private capital and enterprises are aggressively mobilizing, their eyes bloodshot with excitement. Reports of the Moon’s rich resources, combined with the sky-high valuation of the “Moonlight” diamond, signal that the Moon holds no mythical figures like Chang’e, Wu Gang, or the Jade Rabbit, but rather vast mountains of gold and silver waiting to be mined.

With a bit of luck, those who venture to explore and mine the Moon might be the next to discover a “Moonlight” diamond, turning overnight fortunes into reality.

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