In 2009, the LCROSS mission was launched to find water on the moon. As part of its journey, the spacecraft crashed into a permanently shadowed crater at the moon’s south pole, ejecting a plume of debris that was analyzed for the presence of water. The results were positive, and scientists believe there could be significant amounts of water ice in these craters.
While no one is quite sure how this water got there, one possibility is that it was delivered by comets or asteroids that collided with the moon in its early history. If this is the case, other volatile compounds were delivered to the moon’s surface. One of these compounds is gold.
While it’s admittedly speculative, some scientists believe there could be substantial deposits of gold on the moon. If this is true, it would have huge implications for science and economics. In economics, it would be an incredible resource for humans to exploit. In terms of science, it would help us better understand how planets form and evolve.
Of course, we cannot know if there is gold on the moon until we go there and look for it. But if there is even a small chance of significant deposits of this precious metal, it’s worth further investigation.
Table of Contents
The History of Gold on the Moon
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79, making it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. Its pure form is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. A relatively rare element, gold is a precious metal that has been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history. In the past, a gold standard was often implemented as a monetary policy. Still, gold coins ceased to be minted as a circulating currency in the 1930s, and the world gold standard was abandoned for a fiat currency after 1971. A total of 197,576 tonnes of gold exists above ground
The Possibility of Gold on the Moon
Is there any gold on the moon? Scientists believe that it is very unlikely that there is gold on the moon. The moon is thought to be made mostly of rocks and dust, with a small amount of water and ice. Gold is a heavy metal that is unlikely to be found in the moon’s crust. However, it is possible that there could be small amounts of gold in the moon’s mantle or core.
The Benefits of Gold on the Moon
The benefits of gold on the moon have been gaining attention in recent years. Mining for gold on the moon could alleviate some of the problems associated with terrestrial mining, such as environmental damage and dwindling resources. Others believe that gold could be used to create a new economy on the moon, with businesses and even governments operating in space.
There are several reasons why gold could be valuable on the moon:
- Gold is rare on Earth but relatively common on the moon. This means there is potential for a large amount of gold to be mined from the moon.
- Gold is durable and does not rust, making it ideal for space applications.
- Gold is highly reflective and could help manage temperature extremes on the moon’s surface.
- It is still being determined whether there is enough gold on the moon to make mining economically viable.
- Despite the potential benefits of mining gold on the moon, several challenges must be addressed: mining operations must be conducted in an extremely hostile environment with very high temperatures and radiation levels.
- Any gold mined from the moon would need to be transported back to Earth, which would add significantly to the cost of mining operations.
The Risks of Gold on the Moon
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79, making it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. Its pure form is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. A relatively rare element, gold is a precious metal that has been used for coinage, jewelry, and other arts throughout recorded history. In the past, a gold standard was often implemented as a monetary policy. Still, gold coins ceased to be minted as a circulating currency in the 1930s due to the effects of the Great Depression and the advent of fiat currencies during World War II. After 1945, gold was replaced by a system of nominally convertible currencies related through fixed exchange rates following the Bretton Woods system. Countries abandoned gold standards and trade barriers during the 1970s, and only Malaysia still officially pegs its currency to that of the United States dollar.
The Future of Gold on the Moon
The moon has long been seen as a potential source of gold, with early explorers and prospectors often dreaming of finding gold mines on the lunar surface. In recent years, however, interest in mining gold on the moon has waned somewhat as technological advances have made it easier and more economical to mine gold on Earth. Nevertheless, several companies and organizations are still investigating the possibility of mining gold on the moon. There may be a future for gold mining in our nearest celestial neighbor.
