Can High Temperatures Enable Silica Formation in Anaerobic Lunar Environments?

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High temperatures and pressures from planetesimal collisions with proto-Earth may have contributed to the formation of silica found in the Moon's highlands. The discussion raises questions about whether covalent bonds can be broken at these high temperatures, potentially allowing for oxygen incorporation in anaerobic environments. There is uncertainty regarding the specific temperatures required for silica formation in such conditions. While breaking bonds at high temperatures is feasible, the relationship to silica creation remains unclear. Overall, the formation of silica in anaerobic lunar environments is a complex process influenced by extreme conditions.
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Perhaps the recent silica found on the Moon highlands resulted from the extreme conditions of temperature and pressure of planetesimal collision with proto-earth. Can covalent bonds be broken at high temperatures, allowing oxygen incorporation in an anaerobic environment? What is the highest experimental temperature for silica formation in an anaerobic environment?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/uoc--srn091510.php
 
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cph said:
Can covalent bonds be broken at high temperatures, allowing oxygen incorporation in an anaerobic environment? What is the highest experimental temperature for silica formation in an anaerobic environment?

No idea what you are asking about. Can the bonds be broken - sure, it is all matter of how high the temperature is. But I have no idea how do you expect it to be related to silica creation. If there is a mixture containing silicon and oxygen, SiO2 is usually one of the most thermodynamically stable substances between likely products.
 

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