Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Technological advances in today’s modern era have resulted in various innovations, not least in the mining sector. Not long ago scientists discovered several asteroids that contain precious metals and can generate thousands of trillions of rupiah.
Asteroids are celestial bodies that are generally located in the interior of the solar system. They are smaller than planets but bigger than meteoroids.
Scientists have revealed that at least two asteroids have been found to contain high-value mineral resources. The two asteroids, namely the asteroid labeled 1986 DA and 16 Psyche. The asteroid, labeled 1986 DA, is one of only two asteroids close to Earth that contains metals. The asteroid with the nickname mini Psyches is worth US $ 11.65 trillion or around Rp. 165,430 trillion (assuming Rp. 14,200/US$).
The 1986 asteroid DA has a width of 1.6 kilometers. That said, the asteroid is likely to have more iron, nickel and colbalt than the metal reserves on Earth.
According to the researchers’ initial estimates, 85% of asteroids contain metallic minerals and the rest are silicates or normal rocks. The researchers predict that the two celestial bodies are ‘likely to be mining targets in the future’, quoted by CNet, Tuesday (12/10/2021).
They estimate the asteroid consists of hills and valleys made of precious metals. It is likely that the object is the core of an ancient rocky planet that was destroyed.
The talk of space mining has become a hot topic in the scientific community. According to experts, mining could be a cost-effective source of metal if humans established colonies on either the Moon or Mars.
The asteroid that is often discussed for mining is 16 Psyches. The object is in the belt of Mars and Jupiter with a mineral content of US $ 10,000 quadrillion. Next year, the United States Space Agency or NASA is planning to start the 16th Psyches mission. There, the researchers plan to conduct research and confirm allegations of mineral content in it.
But before that, professor of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona, Vishnu Reddy, said there was a need to conduct research on mini-psyches. main part of this research.
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