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2019 Vol.56, Issue 6 Preview Page

Review

Current Status of the Technical Development for Recover Mineral Resources on the Moon

달의 광물자원 회수 기술개발 현황

Sujeong Lee1
Kyoungkeun Yoo2*
이 수정1
유 경근2*
1한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부/UST 자원순환공학전공
2한국해양대학교 에너지자원공학과
* Corresponding Author
December 2019. pp. 665-675
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Abstract

With the discovery of water ice, the development of giant space observation facilities, private capital participation, exploration, and utilization of mineral resources on the moon became a reality. Hence, Korea is planning to explore the moon, and will begin by sending an orbiter. It is widely accepted that the lunar regolith contains valuable minerals and metals. Furthermore, it has been proved that processing and smelting of mineral resources might be possible through some process. By modifying and combining these technologies suitably, it will be possible to recover the resources on the moon, such as rare earth elements, ilmenite, and metal iron. To achieve this ultimate purpose, a precise reproduction of the simulant lunar regolith should be prioritized in Korea. Development of suitable mineral processing and smelting techniques by using the simulant should be conducted in laboratories for reproducing the atmospheric environment of the moon.

Keywords
Moon
mineral resources
mineral processing
smelting
simulant

달에 존재하는 얼음 층의 발견과 거대 우주 관측 시설의 발전, 민간 자본의 참여로 달 광물자원의 활용이 현실로 다가오고 있다. 우리나라는 달에 궤도선을 보내는 것으로 시작으로 본격적인 달 탐사를 계획하고 있다. 달의 표토에는 유용한 광물자원과 금속이 존재하는 것이 그동안의 탐사와 분석을 통해 알려졌다. 달 표토와 모사토의 분석을 통해 정전선별, 자력선별, FFC 캠프리지 공정 등으로 달에서의 광물자원의 선광, 제련 공정이 가능할 것으로 입증되었다. 이들 기술을 적절하게 변형, 결합함으로서 달의 광물자원인 희토류 원소, 티탄철석, 금속 철 등을 회수할 수 있을 것이다. 이를 위해 국내에서는 광물자원 회수 연구를 목적으로 정밀하게 달의 표토를 재현한 모사토가 우선 개발되어야 한다. 모사토를 대상으로 달의 대기 환경을 재현한 조건에서 이에 적합한 선광 및 제련 기술의 개발이 진행되어야 할 것이다.

키워드
달
광물자원
선광
제련
모사토
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
  • Volume : 56
  • No :6
  • Pages :665-675
  • Received Date :2019. 12. 05
  • Revised Date :2019. 12. 19
  • Accepted Date : 2019. 12. 20
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2019.56.6.665
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