Thread:Talk:Mining Asteroids/Rubble Pile Variable for Mining Asteroids

In reference to R. Keith Henson asteroid mining article, perhaps this should be a case of looking at formation of smaller asteroids, called Rubble Piles?

The reason for this is that it may be easier to facilitate a rubble pile asteroid removal of gold or valuable gravel versus looking at a more complex extraction technique.

The asteroid mining robot could go out to rubble piles and dive into them carefully. Almost swim through the pile so to speak and pluck or swallow the gold, platinum or other desirable materials. Those materials could be sorted by the detectors and placed into their respective value collection cylinders.

Jettison those cylinders as their assay review, i. e. a camera with spectroscopy laser combination works over or spins particles around with various RF, photo or related detection with video for bidders home world bound at this stage or LEO in later stages to monetize them sooner.

A few thoughts to kick start this differently.