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On Earth, clay minerals are the most common products of weathering. ?

Samples from the Moon do not contain any clay minerals. Why do you think this is?

6 Answers

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  • 1 year ago

    clays form via reaction of aluminosilicate minerals with water.  The water transports away cations such as Na and K and leaves Si-Al-Fe-oxy-hydroxide behind (cations link to O or OH).  The residual cation content depends on the clay type (clay maturity, in a way), so that is just a gross picture.  If you have little water, you cannot make oxyhydroxide minerals such as clays.

  • Paul
    Lv 6
    1 year ago

    Huge temperature swings produce plenty of weathering.  Where do you think all that dust comes from?  However, no water = no chemical weathering = no clay minerals

  • Anonymous
    1 year ago

    Think about it - is there weathering on the moon...?

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    There's no water on Moon surface, therefore chemical weathering is inexistent there. No chemical weathering, no clay minerals.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    There is no liquid water on the lunar surface.

  • 1 year ago

    Clay and sand are made by erosion.  But there's no weather on the moon!  No oceans or rivers.  So no erosion from wind or water or ice. 

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