Why Earth Is Causing the Moon to Rust: Uncovering the Surprising Connection

A recent study reveals that Earth may be responsible for rust found on the Moon. Researchers found that oxygen escaping from our planet likely transforms iron on the Moon into hematite, a type of rust. This discovery sheds light on the chemical exchange between Earth and its lunar companion.

Xiandi Zeng and a team from the Macau University of Science and Technology conducted lab experiments to simulate conditions on the Moon. “We’ve shown for the first time that oxygen can cause hematite to form and be reduced,” they noted in their research.

Hematite is a byproduct of iron oxidation, commonly known as rusting. While this mineral is widespread on Earth, the Moon has almost no atmosphere and lacks oxygen. Surprisingly, the Moon is also bombarded by hydrogen from the solar wind—making the process of oxidation seem unlikely.

One explanation involves Earth’s magnetosphere. When Earth’s magnetic field interacts with the solar wind, it creates a “magnetotail” filled with particles, including oxygen ions. During a full Moon, the lunar surface experiences a shower of these oxygen ions while being shielded from most of the solar wind, creating conditions ripe for hematite formation.

In their lab, the researchers tested various iron-rich materials to see how they reacted to oxygen ions. They found that oxygen could oxidize metallic iron and other minerals, leading to the formation of hematite. Interestingly, iron-bearing silicates did not form hematite at all, highlighting a selective process.

Furthermore, they discovered that when they fired hydrogen ions at hematite, water emerged as a byproduct. This suggests that the water found near hematite on the Moon may actually result from the reduction process of the rust.

These findings could rewrite our understanding of the Moon’s geological history. The presence of hematite might hold clues to the history of Earth’s atmosphere, dating back to significant events like the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago.

“These results point to a long-standing material exchange between Earth and the Moon, which may have occurred for over 4 billion years,” the researchers stated.

With missions like Chandrayaan-3 and China’s Chang’E-7 targeting the lunar poles, the future of lunar exploration looks promising. These expeditions could help us unlock more mysteries about the Moon’s connection to Earth.

The study is published in Geophysical Research Letters. For more detailed insights, you can check the original research here.

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