Beneficiation and Sorting
Regolith Beneficiation and Mineral Separation System
The Regolith Beneficiation and Mineral Separation System classifies and concentrates target minerals from raw excavated lunar regolith prior to downstream processing. Following comminution to liberate bound grains, the system applies particle size classification, differential electrostatic charging, and magnetic separation to isolate iron-bearing minerals, such as ilmenite and troilite, from silicates. Processing must operate entirely dry because water is unavailable, precluding standard terrestrial methods such as froth flotation. Mineral sorting is mechanically constrained by the 1/6 g gravitational field, which alters particle trajectory and settling kinetics, while direct contact with abrasive regolith grains accelerates wear across physical sorting mechanisms specified for a 100-year operational lifetime.
Particle size separation, magnetic and electrostatic sorting, mineral concentration
Purpose
Separate and concentrate useful minerals from raw excavated regolith
Context
Component of L1-ISR within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Electrostatic separation exploits differential charging of mineral grains
- ▸Magnetic separation isolates iron-bearing minerals (ilmenite, troilite) from silicates
- ▸Particle size classification improves downstream processing efficiency
- ▸Mineral liberation requires comminution to free individual mineral grains
Typical implementations
- ▸Colorado School of Mines electrostatic beneficiation for lunar regolith
- ▸Kennedy Space Center lunar regolith beneficiation studies
- ▸Terrestrial mineral processing (froth flotation not applicable in vacuum)
- ▸NASA Swamp Works regolith processing research
Lunar considerations
- ▸No water available for wet processing - all beneficiation must be dry
- ▸1/6g affects particle settling and separation efficiency
- ▸Electrostatic properties of lunar regolith enable charge-based separation
- ▸Abrasive regolith causes rapid wear on processing equipment
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Separate and concentrate useful minerals from raw excavated regolith |
Operational
| thermal range c | -173, 127 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Sorted mineral fractions for volatile extraction
- Beneficiated regolith feedstock for manufacturing
Requires
- Raw excavated regolith input
- Power for separation equipment (~500W-2kW)
Decomposes into
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Beneficiation and Sorting" (L2-ISR-BEN). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L2-ISR-BEN
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.