A new type of basaltic rock, discovered during an unmanned lunar exploration mission by China's moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit), may help shed light on lunar volcanism.

The rock was sampled at a fresh crater called Zi Wei, a landing site of Chang'e-3, which reached the moon with the rover in December 2013.

Analysis of the rock's composition indicates that the basalt contains a high enrichment of titanium dioxide and olivine. Researchers from China and the US said the basalt is distinct from samples collected by the Apollo and Luna missions that were carried out by the US and the Soviet Union decades ago.

They reckon the area was covered in a late-stage magma ocean during the moon's development around 3 billion years ago. While rock samples found by the Apollo and Luna missions mainly date back to the early-stage magma oceans between 3 and 4 billion years ago.

A team of scientists from China and the US published the findings in the journal Nature Communications this week.

"The chemical and mineralogical information of the landing site provides new grounds for some of the youngest volcanism on the moon," said the journal.