To make a blue moon, what element does it need?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
$begingroup$
We know that Mars has a reddish color, because its ground consists of iron-based compounds. The moon is grey-whiteish because it consists mostly of silicon-based compounds.
What element should the moon in my world have in order to have a blue color?
I thought about cobalt-based compounds, but naturally this element is silver-grey.
hard-science moons astronomy geology unusual-color
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
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This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We know that Mars has a reddish color, because its ground consists of iron-based compounds. The moon is grey-whiteish because it consists mostly of silicon-based compounds.
What element should the moon in my world have in order to have a blue color?
I thought about cobalt-based compounds, but naturally this element is silver-grey.
hard-science moons astronomy geology unusual-color
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
$endgroup$
This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.
$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We know that Mars has a reddish color, because its ground consists of iron-based compounds. The moon is grey-whiteish because it consists mostly of silicon-based compounds.
What element should the moon in my world have in order to have a blue color?
I thought about cobalt-based compounds, but naturally this element is silver-grey.
hard-science moons astronomy geology unusual-color
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
$endgroup$
We know that Mars has a reddish color, because its ground consists of iron-based compounds. The moon is grey-whiteish because it consists mostly of silicon-based compounds.
What element should the moon in my world have in order to have a blue color?
I thought about cobalt-based compounds, but naturally this element is silver-grey.
hard-science moons astronomy geology unusual-color
hard-science moons astronomy geology unusual-color
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
edited Feb 24 at 8:19
Cyn
10.6k12348
10.6k12348
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
asked Feb 24 at 7:53
Mr.DMr.D
22017
22017
This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.
This question asks for hard science. All answers to this question should be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Answers that do not satisfy this requirement might be removed. See the tag description for more information.
$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07
$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07
add a comment |
1 Answer
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$begingroup$
You don't need an element, you need a mineral.
Certain elements do tend to make things a certain colour, for example nickel will make minerals green, manganese pink, and cobalt purple.
The fact that cobalt itself is a metal is irrelevant. Whatever "element" you have will not be metallic, it will be as a cation (or anion) in the silicates.
So your question should be rephrased to:
What element do I need to make the silicates the moon is made of, blue?
You have several options.
- Add sodium and chlorine, in order to make sodalite: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 (with the other elements already abundantly present on the moon).
- Sodium and water, at high pressure and then somehow expose those rocks on the surface. You will have glaucophane: Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2. This is the main ingredient of the terrestrial rocks known as blueschists:
- Tons more aluminium, so then you can stabilise corundum (Al2O3). When combined with the already abundant iron and titanium as trace elements, you end up with blue corundum. Also known as sapphire when in gem quality:
This should get you started. Other things you might consider are potassium and whatever makes amazonite (potassium feldspar) green-blue. Copper is also a good one, but the blue requires water that isn't common on the Moon.
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
You don't need an element, you need a mineral.
Certain elements do tend to make things a certain colour, for example nickel will make minerals green, manganese pink, and cobalt purple.
The fact that cobalt itself is a metal is irrelevant. Whatever "element" you have will not be metallic, it will be as a cation (or anion) in the silicates.
So your question should be rephrased to:
What element do I need to make the silicates the moon is made of, blue?
You have several options.
- Add sodium and chlorine, in order to make sodalite: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 (with the other elements already abundantly present on the moon).
- Sodium and water, at high pressure and then somehow expose those rocks on the surface. You will have glaucophane: Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2. This is the main ingredient of the terrestrial rocks known as blueschists:
- Tons more aluminium, so then you can stabilise corundum (Al2O3). When combined with the already abundant iron and titanium as trace elements, you end up with blue corundum. Also known as sapphire when in gem quality:
This should get you started. Other things you might consider are potassium and whatever makes amazonite (potassium feldspar) green-blue. Copper is also a good one, but the blue requires water that isn't common on the Moon.
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You don't need an element, you need a mineral.
Certain elements do tend to make things a certain colour, for example nickel will make minerals green, manganese pink, and cobalt purple.
The fact that cobalt itself is a metal is irrelevant. Whatever "element" you have will not be metallic, it will be as a cation (or anion) in the silicates.
So your question should be rephrased to:
What element do I need to make the silicates the moon is made of, blue?
You have several options.
- Add sodium and chlorine, in order to make sodalite: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 (with the other elements already abundantly present on the moon).
- Sodium and water, at high pressure and then somehow expose those rocks on the surface. You will have glaucophane: Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2. This is the main ingredient of the terrestrial rocks known as blueschists:
- Tons more aluminium, so then you can stabilise corundum (Al2O3). When combined with the already abundant iron and titanium as trace elements, you end up with blue corundum. Also known as sapphire when in gem quality:
This should get you started. Other things you might consider are potassium and whatever makes amazonite (potassium feldspar) green-blue. Copper is also a good one, but the blue requires water that isn't common on the Moon.
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You don't need an element, you need a mineral.
Certain elements do tend to make things a certain colour, for example nickel will make minerals green, manganese pink, and cobalt purple.
The fact that cobalt itself is a metal is irrelevant. Whatever "element" you have will not be metallic, it will be as a cation (or anion) in the silicates.
So your question should be rephrased to:
What element do I need to make the silicates the moon is made of, blue?
You have several options.
- Add sodium and chlorine, in order to make sodalite: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 (with the other elements already abundantly present on the moon).
- Sodium and water, at high pressure and then somehow expose those rocks on the surface. You will have glaucophane: Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2. This is the main ingredient of the terrestrial rocks known as blueschists:
- Tons more aluminium, so then you can stabilise corundum (Al2O3). When combined with the already abundant iron and titanium as trace elements, you end up with blue corundum. Also known as sapphire when in gem quality:
This should get you started. Other things you might consider are potassium and whatever makes amazonite (potassium feldspar) green-blue. Copper is also a good one, but the blue requires water that isn't common on the Moon.
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
$endgroup$
You don't need an element, you need a mineral.
Certain elements do tend to make things a certain colour, for example nickel will make minerals green, manganese pink, and cobalt purple.
The fact that cobalt itself is a metal is irrelevant. Whatever "element" you have will not be metallic, it will be as a cation (or anion) in the silicates.
So your question should be rephrased to:
What element do I need to make the silicates the moon is made of, blue?
You have several options.
- Add sodium and chlorine, in order to make sodalite: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 (with the other elements already abundantly present on the moon).
- Sodium and water, at high pressure and then somehow expose those rocks on the surface. You will have glaucophane: Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2. This is the main ingredient of the terrestrial rocks known as blueschists:
- Tons more aluminium, so then you can stabilise corundum (Al2O3). When combined with the already abundant iron and titanium as trace elements, you end up with blue corundum. Also known as sapphire when in gem quality:
This should get you started. Other things you might consider are potassium and whatever makes amazonite (potassium feldspar) green-blue. Copper is also a good one, but the blue requires water that isn't common on the Moon.
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
answered Feb 24 at 8:29
GimelistGimelist
2,619612
2,619612
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
$begingroup$
Thank you for your answer.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 9:04
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Does your moon have an atmosphere?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
Feb 24 at 8:04
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch I prefer moon without any atmosphere.
$endgroup$
– Mr.D
Feb 24 at 8:07