What is Moon Rock made of?

Moon rock, also known as lunar rock, originates from Earth’s Moon.

Lunar rocks primarily consist of common rock-forming minerals found on Earth, such as olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase feldspar (anorthosite). Plagioclase feldspar is predominantly present in the lunar crust, while pyroxene and olivine are commonly found in the lunar mantle.

Anorthosite, a calcium-rich white rock believed to compose the ancient crust of the Moon, is primarily composed of plagioclase feldspar. This mineral is abundant on Earth and contributes to the rock’s light-weight and light-colored appearance. Anorthosite is an igneous rock, indicating it solidified from molten material.

Silicates (including pyroxene, olivine, and feldspar) and oxides (such as ilmenite, spinel, and armalcolite, discovered in rocks collected by Apollo 11 astronauts) are the most prevalent minerals in lunar rocks.

The Apollo 17 mission, conducted by Cernan and Schmitt, retrieved the largest amount of lunar rocks, totaling 110.4 kilograms (243.4 pounds). Currently, only eight lunar rocks are accessible for public viewing worldwide.

Ownership or purchase of authentic Moon Rocks or related materials by private individuals is illegal. However, lunar samples obtained from lunar meteorite findings on Earth are legal. Nonetheless, due to their value, they are often illegally auctioned and sold.

For reference, NASA assessed the value of lunar rocks at approximately $50,800 per gram in 1973, based on the total retrieval cost.