Granite Discovery Indicates Moon is More Similar to Earth Than We Believed

By utilizing microwave instruments to examine the depths of the Moon’s far side, scientists have identified a significant subsurface granite formation referred to as a “hotspot.” This discovery implies that the Moon possesses greater similarities to Earth than what was previously assumed.

Granite formations are typically found on Earth as a result of the ample presence of water and tectonic activity, which facilitate the melting and recycling of materials in the planet’s crust. However, these rocks are scarce in most other parts of the solar system. Surprisingly, a recent study has uncovered a significant granite deposit on the far side of the Moon.

Integration of Data from Multiple Sources for Enhanced Lunar Exploration

The utilization of microwave instruments by the uncrewed Chinese lunar spacecraft, Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2, led to the discovery. To enhance the collected data from these orbiters, researchers combined it with information obtained from various sources, including NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the Lunar Prospector, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), Chandrayaan-1, and the Apollo missions.

Matthew Siegler, the lead author of the study, explained, “By employing a microwave instrument capable of examining longer wavelengths than infrared, which was carried by both the Chinese Chang’e 1 and 2 orbiters, we were able to map sub-surface temperatures.”

Microwave radiometry, with its longer wavelengths, enables scientists to explore deeper beneath the surface, measuring physical temperatures within a range of approximately 1 to 18 feet (0.3 to 5.6 meters).

Within the region situated between the ancient Compton and Belkovich impact craters on the enigmatic far side of the Moon, researchers made a fascinating discovery—a “hotspot” that couldn’t be explained by the topography alone. The most plausible explanation they could propose was the presence of an intensified subsurface geothermal heat source.

Unearthing Clues of a Hidden Extinct Volcano on the Moon

According to Siegler, the lead researcher, “We have detected additional heat emanating from a location on the Moon that is believed to be an extinct volcano, which last erupted over 3.5 billion years ago. This area spans approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles), and the only feasible explanation for such a significant heat signature is a substantial granite formation. Granite forms when magma, the unerupted lava beneath a volcano, cools down. Compared to other rocks in the lunar crust, granite contains higher concentrations of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, which result in the detectable heating at the lunar surface.”

The researchers reached a conclusion that the large volcano had once been supplied by a significantly larger granite magma chamber situated beneath it. While previous Apollo missions had brought back small samples of granitic material from the Moon, they were not on the same scale as this discovery.

Unveiling Surprising Earth-like Characteristics of the Moon’s Geology

According to the researchers, the magnitude of this feature suggests that the Moon bears more resemblance to our planet than previously believed, despite lacking the presence of water and plate tectonics that contribute to the formation of granites on Earth.

Siegler remarked, “The presence of such features, resembling those found on Earth, on the Moon is more remarkable than we had previously imagined. The Moon’s lack of water and plate tectonics, which play a role in the formation of granites on Earth, makes this finding even more significant.”

Additionally, Siegler highlighted the value of remote sensing in uncovering hidden features, emphasizing its potential for exploring other celestial bodies within the solar system.

The researchers are scheduled to present their findings at the Goldschmidt Conference in Lyon, France, on July 12th, 2023, and their study has been published in the journal Nature.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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