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Featured article: Volatiles
The primary resource of value to humans on the Moon is the volatile components found in the regolith. These are all the components that are gases at room temperature. Most of the volatiles have been deposited in the top layers of the Moon's surface by the solar wind over geologic time. A notable exception to this is Argon. the concentration of Argon in lunar soil is much higher than found in the solar wind, so must come from a different source. Especially, the isotope Argon-40. It is presently believed that the Argon-40 comes from radioactive decay of Potassium and/or Krypton deep within the lunar mantle or core, and that the Argon-40 seeps out to the surface via fissures. This vented Argon enter the lunar atmosphere; then the Argon is implanted into the regolith by interactions with ions from the solar wind.(read more)
