New Book on Space Colonies

> How much equipment do you need to send to the NEO in
> order to
> process 2,656 kg of rock per minute to find that
> much platinum every
> year?
>
> I'm assuming that you're going to an NEO to get a
> big payday, not to
> earn $50 mil a year. Afterall its got to cost alot
> to send the
> mining and processing equipment there, right?
>
> Anybody know anything about mining and refining
> processes? The mass
> of the equipment needed. The R&D to teleoperate it
> or automate it?
> Even if we lowered launch costs could we make a go
> of it? Can that
> equipment be lightweight and minimalist?
>
> TangoMan
>
Don't have the answers you want but after a bit of
searching on the net I did find a good primer for
understanding the process of refining platinum:
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com/pdf/V6N7.pdf

Looks like a minimum of 15 days to just refine
platinum. This link should at least be a good start
to answering your Qs.

Also, found this site for looking at the market side
of PGM, http://www.platinum.matthey.com/

Good luck with the rest!

Ryan Z