What kind of rock is the moon made of?
The composition of the rocks on the moon based on samples of lunar rocks are volcanic in origin. The rocks are basalts, similar to the kind of volcanic rock found on Earth. The lunar basalts are rich in iron and magnesium, and they also contain glassy structures that are indicative of rapid cooling. However, unlike Earth basalts, the lunar samples contain no water and a lower percentage of volatiles (elements or compounds with low melting and boiling temperatures) relative to refractories (higher melting and boiling temperatures).
Still Curious?
Get More 'Curious?' with Our New PODCAST:
- Podcast? Subscribe? Tell me about the Ask an Astronomer Podcast
- Subscribe to our Podcast | Listen to our current Episode
- Cool! But I can't now. Send me a quick reminder now for later.
Related questions:
- Why is the Moon so bright?
- Why are there more maria on the near side of the Moon?
- How can we tell what the interiors of planets are like?
More questions about The Moon: Previous | Next
How to ask a question:
If you have a follow-up question concerning the above subject, submit it here. If you have a question about another area of astronomy, find the topic you're interested in from the archive on our site menu, or go here for help.
Main Page | About Us | For Teachers | Astronomy Links | Ask a Question | View a Random Question | Our Podcast
URL: http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=47
This page has been accessed 72737 times since April 29, 2002.
Last modified: June 4, 2003 9:21:24 PM
Ask an Astronomer is hosted by the Astronomy Department at Cornell University and is produced with PHP and MySQL.
Warning: Your browser is misbehaving! This page might look ugly. (Details)


