Scientists have learned a lot about Earth. They have also been busy discovering plenty about space. However, people are still scratching their heads as they try to work out how the oldest rock from Earth ended up on the moon.
Making The Discovery
Believe it or not, but the rock in question was discovered nearly 50 years ago when a team of 14 astronauts traveled up on Apollo to bring home samples from the surface of the moon. Although it looked like just another space rock, it seems as though there could be more to this discovery than meets the eye – and it could be about to uncover secrets from our planet.
How It Formed
It’s believed the rock was formed in an Earth-like atmosphere. The sample contains feldspar, zircon, and quartz that are all commonly found here. However, the researchers believe that it must have oxidized before it ended up on the moon meaning it was unlikely that it formed up in space. As if that wasn’t enough, the evidence suggests that it could have been formed as far as 12 miles below the Earth’s surface. So how did it end up on the moon?
Looking For An Answer
Of course, many people have been working around the clock to try and uncover why this rock is on the moon – and the opinions have people divided. Most people believe that it was a tremendous impact that struck the Earth and caused it to end up in space. Plus, the moon used to be a lot closer to the planet billions of years ago, so the rock would have had less distance to travel.
Other Possibilities
Other people have been considering other possibilities of how the rock ended up in its final position. Some scientists have argued that the rock was once buried deep beneath the surface of the moon before a giant asteroid crashed into the rock and caused the sample to rise to the surface. There are many factors that show this could be true, but the jury is still out.
We might have to wait a while until we have a final answer as to how the oldest rock from Earth ended up on the moon, but it seems as though it has finally returned home – even if it did take millions of years.