Rocks fae the coastal village o Portsoy in Aberdeenshire are playin a key role in helpin scientists develop tuils for tae study e muin’s surface. E University o Aiberdeen is eesin a rare mix o rock fun close egither in Portsoy herbour tae copy e muin’s geology on Yird.

E muin’s core is made o pyroxenite, fyle its ooter regions contain maistly anorthosite an gabbro. Past meteor strikes likely pushed pyroxenite tae the surface. Iss three rocks are aa fun near een anither in Portsoy, giein a unique spot for resairchers tae test nyow instruments designed for astronauts.

Professor John Parnell, leadin e project, said, “Exploration o the muin focuses on twa key areas – evidence o traces o watter an e potential for minerals includin nickel. Portsoy is in a select position for tae help us develop equipment tae test for aat an gain e unnerstaundin we need here on Yird.”

E gabbro rock in Portsoy hauds a mineral cryed olivine, fit, fan it meets watter, chynges intil a colourfu mineral cryed serpentine. Scientists are warkin on tools aat can check for serpentine inside olivine for tae shaw if watter wis eence present—an important clue for muin resairchers.

Dr Joe Armstrong explained, “Fowk gaan tae Portsoy will be faimiliar wi ‘Portsoy marble’ historically quarried til e wast o the toon an aften picked up as a souvenir. Iss ‘marble’ is actually e metamorphic rock serpentinite, composed predominantly o the serpentine group minerals we are interested in. Iss is key for tae unlock unnerstaunin o the muin’s potential resoorces.”

E team at Aiberdeen is teamin up wi the universities o Leicester an Madrid, e British an European Space Agencies, an private firms ower e UK an owerseas for tae advance iss wark.

For decades, Portsoy’s rocks hae bin a lairnin tool. Noo, thay are helpin tae shape e future o space exploration.