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To: Gunslingr3
"Helium-3 is virtually nonexistent on Earth. But it's abundant on the moon, where the isotopes have been sprinkled over billions of years by the solar wind, Kulcinski said. He estimated that a million tons of helium-3 exists in the upper 2 meters of the lunar surface. "

Doesn't this assume that the old pre-1969 theories about dust deposition over 2 billion years on the moon are still accurate? As the "YECs" (Young Earth Creationists) delight in pointing out, the expected large quantities of dust accumulations didn't materialize. There's very little dust, and the moon is a pretty "rocky" place.

Or would the helium-3 penetrate the surface rock to 2 meters? I'm no geologist. I'm just asking.

7 posted on 01/26/2004 6:23:57 AM PST by cookcounty (A "Shaheed" is NOT a "Martyr.")
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To: cookcounty
Or would the helium-3 penetrate the surface rock to 2 meters?

The dirt on the Moon is ground-up rock, made by the bombardment of micrometeorites on the Moon over billions of years. The helium in the dirt comes from the Sun, which implants helium, hydrogen, and many other light elements in the dust by the solar wind.

BTW, 3He is present, but in very minute quantities -- about 1 part per billion. However, this is enormously enriched compared to Earth. Still, it would mean moving a lot of dirt to get at it.

9 posted on 01/26/2004 6:35:47 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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