How accessible is titanium on the moon?

A lunar mining facility harvests oxygen from the resource-rich volcanic soil of the eastern Mare Serenitatis. Credit: NASA/Pat Rawlings

Mining the moon for resources is an important step for humanity’s expansion into the solar system. One valuable resource found on the moon is titanium, worth $10,000 a ton on Earth. A study from Uppsala University in Sweden explores if this lunar titanium can help Earth’s economy.

Titanium is the ninth most common element in the universe and is mainly found on the moon in the mineral ilmenite. Ilmenite, which is available on Earth at a lower cost of $390 per metric ton, can make up to 20% of certain rocks in the Sea of Tranquility, where Apollo astronauts collected samples. The researchers examined two concentrations of ilmenite and compared the potential output of a lunar mine with the Tellnes mine in Norway, which has a rich titanium deposit.

Tellnes produces 750 kilotons of ilmenite annually, contributing 5% of global titanium production. Mining on the moon would require significant equipment, estimated to weigh about 2,500 tons, needing over 40 Saturn V launches for delivery. Powering this equipment poses challenges, but a mix of solar and nuclear power could work.

The mining operation could produce around 500 kilotons of titanium yearly after about 20 years of scaling up. However, the study suggests that economic benefits may not justify lunar mining, as Earth mines can increase production quickly. Interestingly, breaking down ilmenite releases oxygen, another valuable resource. The study doubts any lunar project will start in the next decade, leaving future possibilities