Dhaka, Sept. 30 -- A team of researchers has identified a large, densely packed and strongly magnetised rock formation beneath the moon's surface, offering new clues about its geological history and past activity.

The feature, about 60km wide and around 9km deep, could be an ancient volcanic complex that became magnetised when magma rose from the moon's interior and solidified before reaching the surface, according to a study published Sept 23 in Science Advances.

The characteristics of the rock body suggest the moon had a magnetic field when the rock formed about 4.2 billion years ago, with the field likely between one-fifth and one-third as strong as Earth's current magnetic field, the study authors said.

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