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Published 16:06 IST, September 9th 2019

US Geologists suspect many 'precious metals' hidden below Moon surface

Earth Scientists from US and Canada have suggested that several precious metals may be buried underneath the moon's surface, while India awaits Vikram Lander

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As India awaits the signal from Vikram Lander on the moon, a team comprising US and Canada scientists have suggested that water might not be the only thing under the lunar surface, as per International reports. Earth Scientists have suggested that several precious metals may be buried underneath the moon's surface. Reports state that scientists have theorized this based on the lunar material brought back by the Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969. They have said that that was the 'first clue to the treasure trove' hidden under the moon's surface.

Treasure beneath the moon?

Speaking to a science news agency, Earth scientist James Brenan from Canada's Dalhousie University said, "We have a grand total of 400 kilograms of the sample that was brought back by the Apollo and lunar missions. It is a  pretty small amount of material. To find out anything about the interior of the Moon, we have to kind of reverse engineer the composition of the lavas that come onto the surface. That would give us a clearer picture."

READ | ISRO reveals 'Vikram in a single piece, in a tilted position' on Moon

Scientists believe that the moon was made from our planet's own flesh and bones. Based on this Brenan's team of scientists have conducted experiments on the lunar materials. Reports state that combining the results of experiments on the solubility of sulphur and the thermodynamics of cooling magma, scientists have found a clearer of the lunar mantle. Explaining the results of their experiments , Brenan said, " Our results show that sulphur in lunar volcanic rocks is a fingerprint for the presence of iron sulphide in the rocky interior of the moon." His team believes that it is where the precious metals were left behind when the lavas were created.

READ | Nagpur Police urges 'Vikram' Lander to respond, says 'no challan'

Vikram found intact but tilted 

Meanwhile, India's own lunar Lander Vikram which hit the lunar surface on Saturday had indeed made a 'hard-landing' on the moon, as revealed by an ISRO official on Monday.  ISRO had also said that Vikram was found intact in one piece but was in a tilted position. Vikram had been spotted by Chandrayaan-2's orbiter on Sunday after it lost communication with the ground stations. It had lost communication during its final descent, just 2.1 km above the lunar surface, in the early hours of Saturday.

READ | 'Vikram Lander spotted on Lunar surface by Orbiter': ISRO to ANI

What happened during Vikram's soft-landing?

Earlier on Saturday morning at 1:50 AM when Vikram was scheduled to land, ISRO's Deep Space Antenna lost communication with Chandrayaan-2's lander- Vikram as it descended towards the lunar surface. The lander had descended from 30 km to 2km smoothly. During the final smooth braking stage, it had lost communication with Mission Control. Vikram was aimed at soft-landing on the moon, making India the fourth country to do so.     

READ | Chandrayaan 2 | 'Vikram must have done a hard-landing': ISRO to PTI

15:58 IST, September 9th 2019