Huge reserves of valuable ores discovered on the Moon PHOTO

A new study suggests that asteroids rich in valuable raw materials have already "delivered" their cargo to the Moon, leaving it scattered in thousands of impact craters.

According to estimates, as many as 6,500 craters could contain metals of the platinum group, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, writes Science Alert.

In addition, the researchers report that about 3,400 craters may contain water in the form of hydrated minerals, a key resource for future human missions and the establishment of lunar bases.

"These values ​​are one to two orders of magnitude higher than the number of ore-bearing near-Earth asteroids estimated by Elvis (2014)," writes the team led by independent astronomer Jayanth Chennamangalam, "implying that it may be more advantageous, and therefore more profitable, to mine asteroids that have hit the Moon than those in orbit."

Advantages of space mining

The idea of ​​extraterrestrial mining offers solutions to several pressing problems. Our planet's resources are limited, and traditional mining is often environmentally destructive, destroying habitats and causing pollution.

On the other hand, space mining could encourage further space exploration. For example, access to water on the Moon would greatly facilitate mission logistics, reducing the need to transport water from Earth.

The moon as a more practical target

Although many asteroids are considered rich sources of precious metals of the platinum group, which are highly valued in industry and medicine, their mining is full of challenges.

In addition to the astronomical costs, near-Earth asteroids are rare, difficult to access, and their unpredictable movements make any operations difficult. The moon, in contrast, is at a predictable distance, with a known orbit and always facing the same direction. Although mining on the moon is no easy feat, it is incomparably easier than "hunting" asteroids.

Asteroid tracks in craters

Researchers focused on impact craters to find the answer. The starting point is the theory that metal-type asteroids brought platinum-group metals, while carbonate asteroids brought water.

Although asteroid impacts on the Moon's surface cause some of the material to vaporize, recent evidence suggests that a significant portion may survive, especially in large, complex craters. In such craters, asteroid debris often accumulates in the central peak, creating concentrated deposits.

Analyzing the number of craters, the team came up with impressive numbers. It is estimated that up to 6,500 craters larger than one kilometer in diameter could contain platinum group metals. If the search is narrowed down to larger craters (over 12 miles in diameter) with a clearly defined central peak, where the ore is most likely concentrated, the number of potential sites drops to 38.

Similarly, up to 3,350 craters could contain water, with 20 of them considered particularly promising because of their concentrated deposits. These numbers statistically make the Moon a richer hunting ground than near-Earth asteroids.

What's next?

Although asteroid mining remains a goal for the distant future, the Moon looms as a much more realistic and practical first step. The key now is to identify exactly which craters hide the greatest treasures and develop the technology to exploit them.

The authors of the study, published in the journal Planetary and Space Science, suggest that the best approach is a remote reading from lunar orbit.

Such a method would be significantly more cost-effective than sending expensive landers to locations where success is not guaranteed and would help in the precise selection of the most valuable targets for future exploration.