According to astronomers, a newly created map of the Moon has uncovered a significant presence of titanium ore that is up to 10 times more abundant than that found on Earth, a discovery that could eventually pave the way for a lunar mining colony.
This finding was made possible by a camera installed on the US Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which examined the lunar surface using seven different wavelengths of light.
Mark Robinson from Arizona State University, who showcased the research at a conference in Nantes, western France, alongside Brett Denevi from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, analyzed the data for significant variations in the ratio of ultraviolet to visible light.
They identified this characteristic by utilizing rock samples collected during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, coupled with images of the mission’s landing area obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope.
‘To the naked eye, the Moon’s surface seems to be adorned with shades of grey,’ Robinson elaborated.
‘Yet, when observed with appropriate instruments, the Moon reveals a vibrant palette of colors.
‘In certain regions, the maria (lunar plains) exhibit a reddish hue, while in others, they appear blue.
‘These subtle color differences are informative about the lunar surface’s chemistry and development. They provide insight into the abundance of titanium and iron, as well as the maturity of lunar soil.’
Titanium, being nearly half the weight of steel yet just as strong, is a highly sought-after and costly metal.
On Earth, titanium is found in a maximum of approximately one percent in comparable ores. However, the new map has shown that lunar maria have titanium concentrations ranging from about one percent to ten percent, as reported by the conference organizers in a press release. In the lunar highlands, the abundance was around one percent.