Mineral Processing and Metal Extraction on the Lunar Surface -- Challenges and Opportunities

TL;DR

This paper reviews the challenges and opportunities of mineral processing and metal extraction on the lunar surface, emphasizing lightweight, automated processes that leverage lunar conditions for future extraterrestrial mining.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of lunar mineral extraction challenges and proposes simplified, environment-adapted process designs and promising reduction pathways for future lunar mining operations.

Findings

Lightweight, simple process flow sheets are preferred for lunar operations.

Elimination of traditional comminution and beneficiation can be economically beneficial.

Molten regolith electrolysis and vacuum thermal dissociation are promising metal reduction methods.

Abstract

The lunar surface is extremely harsh and current mineral processing and metal extraction technologies are not adequately equipped to address this environment. In this paper we review the metals available for extraction and conditions at the lunar surface, and analyse the challenges associated with comminution, beneficiation, and metal extraction operations. The potential beneficial effects of the natural lunar conditions are also evaluated. This investigation concludes that process plant design on the lunar surface will favour lightweight, schematically simple flow sheets that enable automation, and that utilise the local environment wherever possible. The elimination of traditional comminution and beneficiation stages and their replacement with basic classification could be economically favourable. The most promising metal reduction pathways are identified as molten regolith electrolysis, and vacuum thermal dissociation, other processes with merit are hydrogen reduction, carbothermal reduction, and solid electrolysis. Finally, it is identified that a significant research effort in all areas of astrometallurgy will be required before industrial-sized extra-terrestrial mineral processing and metal extraction operations will be viable.