Researchers say over a trillion dollars worth of platinum is sitting on the moon, waiting to be mined. This isn’t science fiction; a new study published in Planetary and Space Science suggests that’s the case.
Platinum Riches from Asteroid Impacts
The study estimates that roughly 6,500 lunar craters, each at least a kilometer wide, are packed with platinum group metals (PGMs). These metals were deposited by asteroid impacts long ago. Lead researcher Jayanth Chennamangalam told New Scientist that this adds up to a truly massive amount of platinum.
Lunar Mining: A Viable Option?
This discovery highlights the potential for commercial space mining. The moon, with its abundance of potential mining sites, might be far easier to exploit than near-Earth asteroids. This could lead to private investment in space exploration and lessen our reliance on government funding.
Platinum: More Than Just Jewelry
Platinum’s value extends far beyond its use in jewelry. Its strength and unique properties make it crucial for various high-tech applications, including clean energy and medical technology. The metal’s price has already jumped over 30% this year, reaching around $1,400 per troy ounce, due to high demand and limited supply.
The Bottom Line
The moon could hold the key to unlocking a vast platinum fortune. This exciting prospect could revolutionize space exploration and potentially solve some of Earth’s resource challenges. However, it’s important to remember that this is still a developing area of research, and significant challenges remain in actually extracting these resources.