Grid-electric-powered mining (was Lunar Excavating Equipment)

New electrolysis method for extracting ("smelting") iron and oxygen from
iron oxide:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/steel-without-greenhouse-gas-emissions-0508.html

The normal earth process uses carbon/coke to smelt, but that's not easily
available on the moon. So far as I know, this process doesn't use anything
up as it works.

Of course the electrolysis process uses huge amounts of electricity, which
isn't particularly available on the moon in such massive quantities (or
rather, it's easy, but expensive, for example, there's a distinct lack of
hydroelectricity...), but it seems to be an advance on the state of the art.

On 29 April 2013 00:59, hitssquad wrote:

> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Al Globus wrote:
> > On Apr 26, 2013, at 3:21 PM, Doc wrote:
> > > Current off the shelf equipment could be modified for lunar surface
> use.
> > -- There's kind of a shortage of hydrocarbons on the Moon
>
> There is earth-moving equipment that runs on grid-electricity:
>
> Electric rope shovels connected by extension cord:
> https://mining.cat.com/products/surface-mining/electric-rope-shovels
>
> Electric haul trucks connected by pantograph:
> https://google.com/search?q=haul+truck+pantograph+liebherr&tbm=isch
>
> Walking dragline excavators connected by extension cord:
> https://www.google.com/search?q=walking+dragline+electric&tbm=isch
>

--
-Ian Woollard