Miners could hit a jackpot with the findings of abundant titanium ore, a very expensive metal, on the moon.

The presence of titanium in the moon, reportedly 10 times richer than the Earth, could make it a future mining colony. Titanium is a strong lightweight metal often used in aviation, sports, medicine and jewelry.

The bounty was discovered when a camera aboard the US Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter swept the surface of the moon and examined it in seven different light wavelengths, according to an AFP report.

The new map of the moon found abundant titanium ore that is 10 times richer than on earth. The lunar titanium is mostly found in the mineral ilmenite, a compound containing iron, titanium and oxygen, and miners could break down the ilmenite to liberate these elements, astronomers said.

The findings also showed that titanium-rich mineral can retain particles such as helium and hydrogen, from the solar wind more efficiently thus providing vital resource for future inhabitants of lunar colonies.

With the discovery of huge deposits of Titanium in the moon, public interest on the moon has suddenly been revived and there are also possibilities that many would race to gain a foothold on the moon if only because of this new discovery.

Future miners living and working on the moon can hit a jackpot with this valuable substance that is especially useful in various military applications such as aircrafts, armor plating, naval ships, spacecraft and missiles.

Titanium is also in demand for sports equipment like rackets, bicycle frames, golf clubs, and for other uses like eyewear frames, laptop computers, medical implants and jewelry.