09-03-2019, 11:18 AM
https://phys.org/news/2019-09-lies-moon-surface.html
A new study by geologists in Canada and the United States suggests a repository of precious metals may be locked deep below the moon's surface.
James Brenan, a professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie and lead author of the study in Nature Geoscience, says he and fellow researchers were able to draw parallels between mineral deposits found on Earth and the moon.
"We have been able to link the sulfur content of lunar volcanic rocks to the presence of iron sulfide deep inside the moon," said Dr. Brenan, who collaborated with geologists at Carleton University and the Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for the paper that was published on Aug. 19.
"Examination of mineral deposits on Earth suggests that iron sulfide is a great place to store precious metals, like platinum and palladium."
Yeah, it's hardly surprising that the Moon would contain large reserves of precious metals and minerals (including some that are rare here on Earth, since we already know that the Moon's rocks are different from our own).
Question is, when will they be mined? Currently international treaties make this illegal; however, I think it's pretty much a given that these will be changed once colonising the moon becomes a serious and attractive proposition (assuming that humanity lasts long enough for us to do so).
A new study by geologists in Canada and the United States suggests a repository of precious metals may be locked deep below the moon's surface.
James Brenan, a professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie and lead author of the study in Nature Geoscience, says he and fellow researchers were able to draw parallels between mineral deposits found on Earth and the moon.
"We have been able to link the sulfur content of lunar volcanic rocks to the presence of iron sulfide deep inside the moon," said Dr. Brenan, who collaborated with geologists at Carleton University and the Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for the paper that was published on Aug. 19.
"Examination of mineral deposits on Earth suggests that iron sulfide is a great place to store precious metals, like platinum and palladium."
Yeah, it's hardly surprising that the Moon would contain large reserves of precious metals and minerals (including some that are rare here on Earth, since we already know that the Moon's rocks are different from our own).
Question is, when will they be mined? Currently international treaties make this illegal; however, I think it's pretty much a given that these will be changed once colonising the moon becomes a serious and attractive proposition (assuming that humanity lasts long enough for us to do so).
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