Apollo 15 astronauts found 4-billion-year-old 'Genesis Rock' on the Moon
Apollo 15 astronauts discovered a 4-billion-year-old anorthosite rock on the Moon, which provided scientists with insights into the formation of the lunar crust. Known as the 'Genesis Rock,' it remains a significant sample for understanding the Moon's primordial geological history.
Why it matters
The sample is a cornerstone of lunar geology, helping scientists reconstruct the timeline and physical processes of the Moon's early development.
When Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin explored the Moon in 1971, they were looking for rocks that could reveal how the lunar surface formed. During their mission, they spotted an unusually bright fragment near Spur Crater, a small feature on the slope of Hadley Delta. The white rock immediately stood out against the darker lunar soil, and what looked like an ordinary piece of rock soon became one of the most famous samples returned from the Moon. According to NASA, the sample, officially numbered 15415, was an anorthosite and a piece of the Moon’s primordial crust. Scientists later determined that the rock was about 4 billion years old.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in