The Moon is primarily made of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium, and aluminum, along with trace amounts of other elements.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of the Moon's composition:
Lunar Composition Breakdown
The composition of the Moon varies slightly depending on the location (e.g., crust, mantle, core). However, the average composition of the lunar surface (by weight) is approximately:
- Oxygen (O): ~43%
- Silicon (Si): ~20%
- Magnesium (Mg): ~19%
- Iron (Fe): ~10%
- Calcium (Ca): ~3%
- Aluminum (Al): ~3%
- Chromium (Cr): ~0.42%
- Titanium (Ti): ~0.18%
- Manganese (Mn): ~0.12%
Other Notable Aspects of Lunar Composition:
- Lunar Crust: The lunar crust is largely composed of igneous rocks. These rocks are rich in plagioclase feldspar.
- Lunar Mantle: The lunar mantle is believed to be primarily composed of minerals like olivine and pyroxene.
- Lunar Core: The Moon has a small core, primarily made of iron.
- Water Ice: Orbiting spacecraft have detected evidence of water ice, particularly in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. This water ice could potentially be a resource for future lunar missions.
Key Lunar Materials:
- Regolith: The lunar surface is covered in a layer of loose dust and fragmented rock called regolith. This is formed by billions of years of meteorite impacts.
- Basalt: Dark, iron-rich volcanic rock found primarily in the lunar maria (the dark "seas" on the Moon).
- Anorthosite: A light-colored rock rich in plagioclase feldspar, common in the lunar highlands.
In summary, the Moon is a complex body with a composition dominated by oxygen, silicon, magnesium, and iron, and it contains evidence of water ice.
