For centuries, humans have gazed at the Moon, marveling at its silent beauty. Now, new research suggests that lunar craters could hold vast riches far beyond our wildest dreams. Scientists believe that over a trillion dollars’ worth of precious metals, including platinum, could be waiting to be mined from the Moon’s surface.
A Rich Treasure Trove on the Moon
Lunar prospecting has recently gained attention for its immense potential. The craters on the Moon, formed millions of years ago by asteroid impacts, may be teeming with platinum group metals. These include platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium, all of which are used in a variety of industrial applications on Earth.
According to independent researcher Jayanth Chennamangalam and his colleagues, these metals could be worth more than a trillion dollars, based on their rarity and current market value.
Asteroids that collided with the Moon may have left behind rich deposits of these metals, which are often found deep within their interiors. “A lot more craters on the moon with ore-bearing asteroidal remnants than there are accessible ore-bearing asteroids”, explained Chennamangalam.
The metals deposited in lunar craters could be easier to access and mine than those located on distant asteroids.
Mining on the Moon: Economically Viable?
The concept of mining asteroids has long been discussed by scientists and space enthusiasts alike. However, the sheer distance of asteroids from Earth poses significant challenges. Traveling to these far-off objects, extracting their resources, and returning them to Earth is no small feat.
In comparison, lunar mining offers a far more accessible alternative. The Moon is only about 384,400 kilometers from Earth, which is a relatively short distance in space terms. This proximity could significantly reduce the costs and time associated with space missions. With the promise of trillions of dollars worth of platinum group metals, the economic feasibility of lunar mining seems increasingly likely.
Legal Hurdles: Who Owns the Moon’s Resources?
While the economic potential of lunar mining is undeniable, the legality of such endeavors is far more complicated. The Moon Agreement, which was adopted by the United Nations in 1979, states that the Moon and other celestial bodies are the “common heritage of mankind.” This suggests that no country or corporation can claim ownership of lunar resources, which creates a murky legal landscape for those looking to capitalize on these potential riches.
Despite the Moon Agreement, private companies and spacefaring nations have already shown interest in mining lunar resources. However, the rules around ownership and profit-sharing are still undefined. As technology advances and the prospect of lunar mining becomes more realistic, these legal issues will likely need to be addressed, ensuring that the Moon’s resources are shared in a fair and equitable manner.
The Future of Lunar Prospecting
The discovery of platinum group metals on the Moon opens up an exciting chapter in space exploration and resource extraction. With potential applications in electronics, automotive industries, and renewable energy, these precious metals could provide a new source of revenue for future space missions and commercial enterprises.
However, the road to successful lunar mining will not be without its challenges. “As private space mining and exploration activities loom near, it’s critical that we bridge the gaps in the Outer Space Treaty to ensure clear, fair rules for resource activities at the multilateral level,” says Rebecca Connolly at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Not even going to waste my time reading this article. No one is going to the moon. No one has ever been to the moon. We cannot go to the moon. We can not even leave the earth. I will gladly and very politely listen to anyone who cares to try and convince me that our positively pressured atmosphere is held down by gravity, preventing the near perfect vacuum of ‘space’, from equalizing our world but even science itself tells us that for two areas of different pressure to exist side-by-side, there MUST be a solid structure or membrane separating them. If gravity is holding down our atmosphere, one must wonder all about bugs, insects, and airplanes.
Ohio owns the moon, duh.