Scientists from the Harvard Center for Astrophysics and the University of Birmingham have found that the surface of the Moon contains huge reserves of valuable metals. Their source is asteroids, which over billions of years have enriched the Earth’s satellite.
Researchers estimate that the Moon can store up to 30 million kg of rare metals, including the platinum group. According to Jayant Vyasanakere, project leader, metallic asteroids upon collision leave iron and precious elements on the surface.
Due to lack atmosphere and tectonic activity, these resources are not destroyed and do not sink deeper. As a result, their concentration in the soil reaches 10-100 parts per million – a level comparable to terrestrial deposits.
The Moon is only 384,400 km from Earth, making it possible to control robots in almost real time. NASA is already testing technologies for mining lunar rocks, which opens up prospects for industrial development.
However, experts note that many technical problems remain to be solved. Despite this, the potential of lunar resources is already estimated at $1 trillion, which makes them extremely attractive for future missions.
The discovery confirms that the Moon is not only an object of scientific interest, but also a potential source of valuable metals. With the development of technology, their extraction may become a reality in the coming decades.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology
Source: @nerzhavey
