Subtly Shaded Map of Moon Reveals Titanium Treasure Troves

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2011) — A map of the Moon combining observations in visible and ultraviolet wavelengths shows a treasure trove of areas rich in Titanium ores. Not only is titanium a valuable element, it is key to helping scientists unravel the mysteries of the Moon's interior.

Mark Robinson and Brett Denevi is presenting the results from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission at the joint meeting of the European Planetary Science Congress and the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences.

"Looking up at the Moon, its surface appears painted with shades of grey -- at least to the human eye. But with the right instruments, the Moon can appear colourful," said Robinson, of Arizona State University. "The maria appear reddish in some places and blue in others. Although subtle, these colour variations tell us important things about the chemistry and evolution of the lunar surface. They indicate the titanium and iron abundance, as well as the maturity of a lunar soil."

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Wide Angle Camera (WAC) is imaging the surface in seven different wavelengths at a resolution of between 100 and 400 metres per pixel. Specific minerals reflect or absorb strongly certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, so the wavelengths detected by LROC WAC help scientists better understand the chemical composition of the lunar surface.

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007102109.htm

[tk2kewl]

1. Time to OccupyTheMoon

.

[fegi052li]

2. +100

[tk2kewl]

5. welcome to DU

:hi:

[fegi052li]

3. +100

[Cobalt-60]

4. It will be real handy

to the nation or other organization with the moxie to get some lunar construction underway.

[HopDavid]

6. Gold at the poles? More valuable than gold - water.

The LCROSS ejecta seem to be 1.6% gold. Chemical symbol for gold is Au:

N 6.6000%
CO 5.7000%
H2O 5.5000%
Zn 3.1000%
V 2.4000%
Ca 1.6000%
Au 1.6000%
Mn 1.3000%
Hg 1.2000%
Co 1.0000%
H2S 0.9213%
Fe 0.5000%
Mg 0.4000%
NH3 0.3317%
Cl 0.2000%
SO2 0.1755%
C2H4 0.1716%
CO2 0.1194%
C 0.0900%
Sc 0.0900%
CH3OH 0.0853%
S 0.0600%
B 0.0400%
P 0.0400%
CH4 0.0366%
O 0.0200%
Si 0.0200%
As 0.0200%
Al 0.0090%
OH 0.0017%

To mitigate prohibitive transportation expenses, local propellant is extremely valuable. For this reason, lunar water is more valuable than lunar platinum group metals, titanium or gold. And there was 5.5% water ice in the LCROSS ejecta.

There seem to be even richer water deposits in other polar craters: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/multimedia/feature_ice_like_deposits.html">Sheets of ice at least two meters thick

This potential lunar propellant is only 2.5 km/s from EML1 and EML2. These locations could be very valuable staging platforms. The ice could also to be exported to EML1 to provide radiation shielding and water to drink. There is also lunar oxygen and nitrogen that could be exported to these locations.