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by int_19h
1138 days ago
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Why would anyone want to mine asteroids for iron, given that it's the most abundant element on Earth? I don't think I ever recall seeing a proposal like that outside of the broader notion of "space factories" (where such mining makes sense to reduce the cost of shipping materials back and forth, not because it's cheaper as such). It's stuff like platinum and germanium that makes asteroid mining potentially interesting. |
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On Earth, geological processes concentrate elements into ores, primarily through volcanic and hydrological means. Neither are available in small, cold asteroids devoid of liquid water. Hence asteroids are generally undifferentiated mineralogically, making mining them much less economically viable.
You often see total quantities listed as an amazing thing, glossing over the fact that the Earth has more of everything and in usefully concentrated lumps.