Late-Copernican smooth deposits sampled by Chang'e-6

The first lunar farside samples returned by Chang'e-6 contain valuable insights into lunar evolution， but clarifying their provenances is critical for interpretation. Here we report the landing region is carpeted by discrete patches of meter-thick deposits that exhibit flow characteristics. These deposits have smoother topographic roughness yet compositions and physical properties matching the background mare regolith， suggesting a dominant local component. With diverged model ages in the late Copernican， the deposits likely formed via deposition of minor melt-bearing ejecta excavated from multiple craters， which disturbed local mare materials without significant excavation. Both the scooped surface sample and drill core returned by Chang'e-6 came from a patch of such deposits， and the possible source crater is Jackson. Similar smooth deposits are widespread across lunar maria， and they share a common formation mechanism to light plains， highlighting the long-overlooked but important surface process driven by deposition of melt‑bearing ejecta on the Moon.