Talk:Regolith

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Regolith is a layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering a layer of solid rock usually called bedrock. Regolith is present on Earth, the Moon, some asteroids, and other planets. The causes of regolith on earth are weathering and biological processes. On bodies without an atmosphere, regolith is caused by the gravitational reaggregation of debris resulting from impact with other objects. On Earth, it is one of the important factors for most life, since few plants can grow on or within solid rock, and animals would be unable to burrow or build shelter without a loose material.

[edit] Generaliuty of definition?

Does regolith refer to any loose heterogeneous matter lying atop the bedrock, hence including soil, sand, peat, etc? Or is it loose rocky material only? --Andrew 06:37, Dec 14, 2004 (UTC)

It is the totality of the weathered part of the rock, including the soil, subsoil, saprolite zone and the weathered rock which is in-situ but which is being weathered from fresh silicate minerals to clay minerals. Rolinator 07:42, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] NASA stuff

A chemical composition would have been helpful here. NASA is sponsoring a competition for extracting oxygen (02) from regolith right now. Moon chemical composition of basalt or igneous lava would help researchers answer the question. The story was discussed on WBBM-AM Radio Chicago on Friday 2/25/06. It seemed to me to be possible to create a battery and break up water molecules in the regolith.

James T. Struck