Scientists believe the Moon could be hiding valuable resources just beneath its surface. A new study suggests that thousands of lunar craters may contain platinum-group metals like platinum, rhodium, and palladium — all rare and highly valuable.
Researchers estimate there could be up to 6,500 such craters formed by asteroid impacts that delivered these metals. This makes the Moon a potential target for future space mining, possibly even more promising than near-Earth asteroids.
The study also points to around 3,400 craters that may contain water in the form of hydrated minerals, which could support future human colonies on the Moon.
NASA’s Artemis missions are already preparing to return astronauts to the lunar surface. Artemis II is scheduled for 2026, followed by Artemis III in 2027. These missions may eventually open the door to mining water and precious metals on the Moon, expanding humanity’s access to vital resources