Trillion-Dollar Treasure: Could the Moon Really Hold a Fortune in Platinum?

Many people see the Moon simply as a source of nocturnal illumination on Earth. Astrophysicist Jayanth Chennamangalam, however, views it like a 19th-century Californian prospector might view a rich vein in the mountains—as a treasure trove.

Of course, it’s not an actual trove of gold he’s talking about, but rather a trove worth around $1 trillion in platinum, alongside other precious metals such as iridium and palladium—metals that might ring a bell if you’ve played the game Mass Effect. These valuable resources are tucked away in approximately 6,500 lunar craters.

In research published in the journal Planetary and Space Science, Chennamangalam and his colleagues analyzed data from over 1.3 million lunar craters, each wider than half a mile. They discovered that a significant number of these craters were formed by metal-rich asteroids.

Chennamangalam proposes that capitalizing on space’s resources could open the floodgates for private investment across the solar system. He articulates in his study that, historically, space exploration was largely driven by academic curiosity. He suggests that the true potential of space exploration will be realized when private enterprises can profit from it.

This perspective is grounded in the fact that space research has traditionally been funded by taxpayers’ money, subjecting it to fluctuating government policies.

The Wealth of Platinum on the Moon

There’s a somewhat cynical undercurrent in his argument, isn’t there? It’s as if he’s saying that pursuits not yielding trillions in profit are unworthy. Engaging in exploration for knowledge, experience, and a deeper understanding of our universe, according to this view, might label one as a non-contributor in the grand scheme of things.

Only those who envision extracting massive wealth from the Moon’s minerals are seen as the true achievers. If that’s not what he meant, then perhaps his message was lost in his own words, which seem to suggest just that.

Legally, the Moon belongs to no one. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty confirmed it as a sort of vast, celestial commons. It’s owned collectively by humanity and by no one in particular. However, not everyone agrees to abide by these terms.

The Artemis Accords, led by the United States and signed by numerous countries, are an attempt to outline norms for future lunar exploration and usage. This agreement, though non-binding, essentially says that signatory nations can’t just claim a portion of the Moon or the entire celestial body by simply planting a flag.

Yet, major players like Russia and China have not signed these accords, leaving them unbound by the same commitments that 55 other nations, including the entirety of North America, the bulk of South America, and almost all of Europe, have agreed to.

Take a moment to appreciate the Moon’s beauty tonight; bask in its serene glow. Because, as the global race for lunar minerals intensifies—with numerous countries and corporate entities rushing to exploit its resources—the Moon might soon lose its innocent allure, replaced by the stark reality of corporate exploitation.