Potential resources on 6 Hebe asteroid

Abstract

6 Hebe located in the main asteroid belt is one of the potential extraterrestrial objects of future mining exploitation. It is also widely recognized as the parent body of H chondrites. Based on the chemical analyses of H chondrites, the average chemical composition of the asteroid was determined. This asteroid is composed of, among others [in Mg]: Fe (3.54 · 1015), Ni (2.17 · 1014), Cr (4.44 · 1013), Co (1.05 · 1013), Cu (1.19 · 1012), Mo (1.78 · 1010). These elements are a component of various minerals, including minerals that can be a future object of exploitation. Primarily, they are FeNi alloy minerals, but also e.g. chromite. The reserves of these elements are smaller, but assuming that it is 10 or even 1% of resources, they are still huge. The reserves of 6 Hebe can cover Earth’s demand for selected elements for several thousand to even several million years. For comparison, with the current mining production of iron, the earth’s resources will last 153 years, and reserves–56 years [1]. Extraterrestrial mining may in the future be an ecological alternative to mining on Earth.