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by JoeAltmaier 2427 days ago
Isn't moon dust mostly bauxite? (oxidized aluminum)
2 comments

Not exactly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Moon. I think the problem with moon resources is the moon's gravity while forming was strong enough to pull metals like iron and nickel down into the centre where we can't get at them (they're on the surface a bit too, but not conveniently concentrated). Asteroids, on the other hand, can contain lots of accessible nickel, iron, cobalt, etc.

I'm no expert though!

Wikipedia looks like it says [0], by elemental concentration, roughly 42% oxygen, 21% silicon, 12% iron, 8% calcium, 7% aluminium, 6% magnesium, 4% other.

[0] Bar graph with insufficient labels: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Composition_of_lunar_so...

Magnesium should be even better for some space apps. In fact, it would sinter better in a vacuum than air.

https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/sintering-of-magnesium-h06...