The latest results from China's first lunar rover have suggested that the moon's past was more active complex than previously thought.

China's Yutu moon rover has found a proof of at least nine different rock layers deep under its wheels, which indicated that the area was surprisingly geologically active over the past 3.3 billion years.

Long Xiao, lead author of the new study, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, said they have found two interesting factors about Moon.

Through email, Xiao told Space.com, "One is more volcanic events have been defined in the late volcanism history of the moon. Another is the lunar mare [volcanic plain] area is not only composed of basaltic lavas, but also explosive eruption-formed pyroclastic rocks". Xiao added that the finding may throw some light on the volatile contents in the lunar mantle.

The rover is well equipped. It has cameras and three main scientific instruments, the Lunar Penetrating Radar, the Visible Near-Infrared Spectrometer and the Active Particle-Induced X-ray Spectrometer.

The new study, published online on Thursday in the journal Science, reported results from Yutu’s camera and its radar instrument, which can probe about 1,300 feet (400 meters) beneath the moon's surface.

The rover's observations have suggested that the composition of its landing site was different from that of the places visited by NASA's Apollo missions and the Soviet Union's Luna program.

Yutu, which is part of China's Chang'e 3 moon mission, along with a stationary lander, was delivered to the lunar surface on 14th of December 2013. It is the first soft touchdown on the moon since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission in 1976.

A glitch ended Yutu’s travel in January 2014, prior to which it travelled 374 feet (114 meters) on the moon in a zigzag fashion.