Lecture 8

Question 1

Beneficiation - Definition

Answer 1

• concentration of a specific component of a mineral feedstock -> used in huge scale on earth

Question 2

Mining on earth - how to extract

Answer 2

• extract ore
• separate valuable minerals from waste minerals
• Chemically extract metal from mineral
  -> each stage contains several unit operation, many different technologies can be used

Question 3

Mining on earth - extraction of ore

Answer 3

• most metals that are mined exist as minerals
• Rock Preparation
  
  • Drill/Blast
• Excavate Load
  
  • Backhoe, shovel, dragline, continuous, miner, dozer, scraper, dredger
• Haul
  
  • Truck, Train, Belt, Conveyor, Pneumatic, Hydraulic, Aerial Tramway
• Transfer
  
  • Dumping, Internal Transfer, Processors, Waste disposal

Question 4

Mining on Earth - Separate valuable minerals from waste minerals

Answer 4

• Comminution -> Beneficiation
• still big chunks therefore need to be made smaller:
  
  • Crushing/milling -> high energy use, low efficiency, still the best we have
  • Mineral separations -> use differences in properties of minerals to separate them; density, magnetic, electrostatic, surface chemistry

Question 5

Mining on Earth - Chemically extract metal from mineral

Answer 5

• Smelting -> Refining

Question 6

Extraction of resources in space

Answer 6

• Excavation
  
  • Rock Preparation
  • Excavation Load
  • Haul
  • Transfer
• Beneficiation
  
  • Comminution
  • Beneficiation
• Factors to be considered
  
  • Target resource
  • Environment
  • Scale
  • Complexity
  • Efficiency of process at current size of particles

Question 7

Lunar Regolith - parts

Answer 7

• Ilmenite -> oxygen, water
• Anorthosite -> oxygen
• Fe-bearing minerals
• Pyroclastic glass beads
• agglutinates

Question 8

Lunar regolith - separation

Answer 8

• Physical Properties
  
  • Magnetic
  • Electrostatic (surface charging)
  • Conductivity
• Other characteristics
  
  • Size
  • shape

Question 9

Forces acting on lunar particles

Answer 9

• Gravity
• no Buoyancy/drag
• Magnetic
• Electrostatic

Question 10

Beneficiation systems

Answer 10

• no beneficiation process comprises a single step
• Circuits are typical, each part has use
• goal: Reach target product specification
• trade-offs associated with circuit complexity & separation performance