Two-stage process formed moon, simulations suggest
Chemicals missing from lunar rocks may be hiding under crust
OXON HILL, Md. — Rocks on Earth and the moon are nearly identical — except when they’re not. Now new computer simulations might be close to figuring out why lunar samples are in many ways chemically identical to counterparts on Earth and yet missing a few key ingredients.
Easily vaporized elements, known as volatiles, are largely missing from moon rocks but might be sequestered deep in the lunar interior. This core is hidden beneath a crust that accumulated in a second phase of moon formation, planetary scientist Robin Canup reported November 11 at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences.