As a forum exercise, we've considered a "Red Gold" system, applying industrial methods to a notional martian open-pit mine. Induction / microwave smelting and saltwater / chlorine refining methods look promising, but there's plenty of room for improvement - or replacement.
Some of the methods are presently applied in very general terms, or with many simplifications. This may be ok for first steps, but we hope to evolve everything into a more correct and detailed breadboard system, if only to spark focused interest in martian possibilities. We note that the novel martian environment and unusual meteoritic ore make for slow going: we try not to assume too much.
If anyone has interest in upgrading "asteroid mining" into something more plausible, our Red Gold discussion might serve as springboard.
Thanks.
- The Lake Matthew Team
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Red Gold
Here's an outline of recent Red Gold posts. Red Gold would be a first commercial step toward winner-take-all precious-metal mining in outer space.
All just for discussion.
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1. Asteroid Ore on Mars
Meteorites on the martian surface - the most accessible asteroid ores.
2. Prospecting
A way to prospect for metals from Low Mars Orbit. Prelude to physical assay, and claim.
3. Red Gold
Considerations and working assumptions for a first martian metal mine.
4. Entering the Process
Starting to reimagine the metal production process at a Red Gold Mars facility.
5. Ore Comminution
Finding an easy way to cut meteoritic nickel-iron bodies down to size.
6. Tailings
Using the ore's magnetic properties to separate it from silicates.
7. Smelting
An electromagnetic smelting system to extract an alloy ingot for refinement.
8. Red Gold with 100% Open-Air Martian Refining
Unpressurized saltwater reactors operating in the open on Mars, beneath liquid membranes.
9. Refining Without A Drop From Earth
A Red Gold precious-metal refinery needing no liquid cargo from Earth, just minor dry additives for a saltwater reactor.
10. Salt Harvest
Collecting all of the salts required for a Red Gold saltwater refinery.
11. Water
An example low-latitude ice deposit, characteristic of sites that might conceivably offer both accessible water and also accessible ore.
12. Water Harvest: 1, 2
Mining ice without digging, or without digging much. A melt-down ISRU plant is proposed, with some scenarios for efficient water harvesting.
13. Endgame
The meaning of winner-take-all.

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