--> Volcanogenic Resources for a Sustained Human Presence on the Moon

AAPG ACE 2018

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Volcanogenic Resources for a Sustained Human Presence on the Moon

Abstract

The Moon has a wide variety of volcanogenic features that contain an array of metals, rare-earth elements, and energy resources for long-term, sustained human habitation. These resources occur in (1) regional basin-fill basalt flows, (2) small (<15-km) silica-rich igneous domes such as Mons Gruithuisen and Compton-Belkovich, and (3) patchy exhalative deposits such as Ina and Maskelyne that may be less than 100 million years old. Recent mapping missions by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have provided background surveys of the lunar surface. Future investigations will be needed to target areas of concentrated resources. High values of titanium-oxide (up to 11 wt. %) occur in Oceanus Procellarum. Detailed mapping of small pyroclastic volcanic vent deposits has identified a suite of volcanogenic elements that include iron, zinc, cadmium, mercury, lead, copper, and fluorine. Rare metals and platinum-group elements may also reside in low concentrations in regolith breccias, highland impact breccias, and possibly in layered mafic intrusives. Thorium is relatively abundant in Oceanus Procellarum, associated with late-stage melts rich in KREEP (Potassium/Rare-Earth-Elements/Phosphorus) constituents. Exhalatives and some impact breccias contain volatiles such as nitrogen and carbon, the building blocks of plastics and foodstuffs. Other volatiles, including water, also occur in lunar pyroclastic glasses and in cold, permanently shadowed areas near the poles. Lunar orbital depots for fuel and life-support materials have benefits for mission economics and can serve as temporary accumulation areas for transport of materials derived from volcanogenic sources to Earth’s surface. Future advances in technology and planetary engineering on the Moon, a perfect proving ground, will offer humans a steppingstone to Mars, ultimately leading to a sustained human presence in space.