General / Off-Topic Asteroid mining and a post-scarcity economy

Cmdr Andy B

Cmdr Andy B
deMangler said:
This subject has risen it's head in a few threads lately.

Spotted an article about a couple of companies that were mentioned.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/24/asteroid_mining_economy/

It's The Register so expect heavy doses of Irony, Humour, and Good Journalism.
Click to expand...

its interesting but i dont think a post-scarcity economy will develop quickly as delivery charges will be a killer:

5 tons of platinum? that's bla bla bla a ton plus shipping. how much is shipping you say? just three billion dollars a ton
 

Starblazer

Starblazer
As AndyB says, there being almost unlimited supplies of, say, platinum, means little if petrol is still pre-scarcity. It'd just mean shipping costs would end up more expensive than the actual stuff you're shipping!
 

LCplCombat

L
AndyB(EDB50) said:
its interesting but i dont think a post-scarcity economy will develop quickly as delivery charges will be a killer:

5 tons of platinum? that's bla bla bla a ton plus shipping. how much is shipping you say? just three billion dollars a ton
Click to expand...

Supply and demand, 190.84 (Long ie UK) Tons were produced worldwide in 2011. Demand is increasing, 225.86 tons were used in various applications, mostly catalytic converters, 57.05 tons was recycled, mostly catalytic converters again. As technology and infrastructure improves, the cost of mining asteroids will reduce and make it feasible.

In 2011 Platinum was $1,721 per oz the total produced was valued at $11,152,080,000

As you say it would need to be cost effective and there is no guarantee of how much of a given element is present in a particular asteroid. Having said that, even Iron and Nickel, the most common of the metals present in asteroids would be useful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom