Lunar Reclamation Society

Cast Basalt

May 11, 2000

Much of the lunar surface, especially the dark maria (pronounce MAH-ree-a) or "seas" of congealed lava flows (like Mare Tranquilitatis, the Sea of Tranquility where the Apollo 11 crew first touched down on July 20, 1969) are of volcanic basalt. The upper few feet are pulverized into small grains by eons of meterorite bombardment. This stuff can be taken up, remelted and cast into some very useful items for a startup moonbase. We are already making similar products on Earth.