Explore the full story behind the groundbreaking asteroid mining mission that brought 1.5 tons of iridium back to Earth. This blog post features the original transcript, a detailed DeepSeek summary, and an in-depth report with an audio overview. Learn about the integration of UniquilibriuM Drives, the AI stack upgrade from Capella to Orion, and the meticulous preparation that made the mission a success. Perfect for space enthusiasts, tech innovators, and anyone curious about the future of space resource extraction. – DeepSeek

*** This information was recovered from a mission planning phase that was completed BEFORE what was already covered in the following reports:

1. Deep Dive: Asteroid Landing Mission – Raw Audio, Research Report, and Comprehensive Analysis
2. Decoding the Iridium Crisis: AI, Anomalies, and the Cheyenne Mountain Mystery
3. (HAKEYM News) Mystery at Cheyenne Mountain: Space Force Iridium Delivery Mission Plagued by Delays, Unexplained Energy Anomaly
4. (HAKEYM News) EXCLUSIVE: Space Force Iridium Mission Faces Anomalies at Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Listen to “Prequel to the Stars: Preparing for the Iridium Heist with UniquilibriuM Drives” on Spreaker.

DeepSeek Mission Briefing Update: Continuity and Context

Operative: Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander
AI Stack: Upgraded Galaxy AI + Google Gemini + DeepSeek-R1 Integration (Pre-Orion)
Target: High-Iridium Asteroid (Hypothetical M-Type)
Objective: Extract 1.5 tons of iridium for Space Force deployment at Cheyenne Mountain Complex

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1. Continuity with Post-Upgrade Mission

The current transcript and preparatory work represent the prequel to the mission log summary involving Orion (formerly Capella) and Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander. This phase focuses on the preparation, AI stack upgrades, and initial deployment of UniquilibriuM Drives before the successful asteroid landing and mining operation.

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2. Key Connections to Post-Upgrade Mission

• AI Evolution:
• Capella → Orion: The AI stack upgrade (DeepSeek-R1 + Gemini) transformed Capella into Orion, enhancing its capabilities for real-time navigation, system diagnostics, and mission-critical decision-making.
• Orion’s Role: In the post-upgrade mission, Orion provided real-time navigation and safety checks, ensuring a smooth descent and landing on the asteroid.
• UniquilibriuM Drives:
• The drives’ ability to manipulate gravity wells into gravity hills enabled the rapid transit and precise maneuvering described in the post-upgrade mission log.
• This technology was critical for achieving the 150 m/s speed at 10 km altitude and subsequent deceleration to 5 m/s for final approach.
• Mining Objectives:
• The prequel mission established the feasibility of extracting 1.5 tons of iridium, which aligns with the post-upgrade mission’s target of ~1.15 tons (adjusted for cargo capacity and asteroid composition).
• The focus on the Southern Hemisphere as a resource-rich zone was informed by pre-mission analysis conducted during this preparatory phase.
• Safety Protocols:
• The iterative safety checks and spacesuit diagnostics highlighted in the post-upgrade mission were developed and refined during this prequel phase.

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3. Revised Mission Timeline (Prequel)

Phase 1 (Pre-Launch): 6 days

• Final AI stack calibration (DeepSeek-R1 + Gemini).
• UniquilibriuM Drive diagnostics and field alignment.
• Payload integration (mining drones, smelters, containment units).

Phase 2 (Transit): 18 days

• UniquilibriuM Drives enable rapid traversal to target asteroid.
• DeepSeek-R1 optimizes gravitational field manipulation for efficiency.
• Continuous AI monitoring of drive performance.

Phase 3 (Ops): 3 days

• Autonomous mining drones deploy upon arrival.
• Iridium extraction and smelting completed in record time.
• DeepSeek-R1 ensures precision in resource collection.

Phase 4 (Return): 12 days

• UniquilibriuM Drives enable swift Earth return.
• Iridium payload secured for re-entry and delivery to Cheyenne Mountain.

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4. Mission Readiness (Prequel)

• AI Stack: DeepSeek-R1 + Gemini fully integrated and tested.
• UniquilibriuM Drives: Calibrated and ready for deployment.
• Crew: Commander Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander briefed and prepared.

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5. Continuity with Post-Upgrade Mission

• Descent & Landing: Orion’s real-time navigation and system checks during the post-upgrade mission were enabled by the AI stack upgrades and UniquilibriuM Drive capabilities developed in this prequel phase.
• Mining Operations: The focus on iridium extraction and the selection of the Southern Hemisphere as a target zone were informed by pre-mission analysis conducted during this preparatory phase.
• Safety Protocols: The iterative safety checks and spacesuit diagnostics highlighted in the post-upgrade mission were developed and refined during this prequel phase.

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Final Note:
This prequel mission laid the groundwork for the successful asteroid landing and mining operation described in the post-upgrade mission log. With UniquilibriuM Drives and the upgraded AI stack, this mission will redefine space resource extraction. Proceed to coordinates embedded in Secure Channel Ω-7.

//End Brief//

Let’s make history, Commander. 🚀

Listen to “Iridium: From Earth's Scarcest Element to Asteroid Gold Rush” on Spreaker.

Iridium Prices and the Prospect of Asteroid Mining

1. Executive Summary:

Iridium, a platinum group metal renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance and high melting point, currently occupies a niche yet critical role in various high-technology industries. Its limited terrestrial supply and increasing demand have historically contributed to its high value. This report examines the current dynamics of the iridium market, analyzes its historical price trends, and investigates the potential of asteroid mining as a future source of this valuable element. While the concept of extracting iridium from asteroids holds the promise of vast resources, significant technological, logistical, and economic hurdles remain. Simultaneously, advancements in alternative materials and recycling technologies present nearer-term factors that could influence the future demand and supply landscape of iridium.

2. Current State of the Iridium Market:

The current market price for iridium stands at approximately $4250.00 USD per troy ounce as of March 2025 ¹. This price point is consistently reported across multiple independent sources, indicating a well-established and actively tracked spot market for the metal. For smaller quantities, particularly those geared towards private investors, the retail price is around $150.52 USD per gram ⁵. This discrepancy between the per-ounce and per-gram pricing likely reflects premiums associated with handling, storage, and investment-grade purity for smaller volumes.

Several key factors underpin the current price dynamics of iridium. Fundamentally, the supply of iridium is constrained by its rarity in the Earth’s crust. Annual global production is estimated to be in the range of 3 to 6.8 tonnes ⁶, highlighting its scarcity compared to other metals. Simultaneously, the demand for iridium is steadily increasing due to its essential role in a growing number of high-technology applications ⁵. These applications span across diverse sectors, including the tech industry ⁹, energy-efficient electrical devices ¹⁰, aerospace, electronics, medical technology, and notably, the burgeoning green hydrogen sector where it acts as a crucial catalyst in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers ⁵. Furthermore, geopolitical factors in the primary iridium-producing regions, such as South Africa, Russia, and Zimbabwe ⁸, can introduce volatility into the supply chain, thereby influencing price fluctuations ⁵.

3. Historical Analysis of Iridium Prices:

Over the past 5 to 10 years, the price of iridium has exhibited significant fluctuations, reflecting the evolving balance between its limited supply and increasing demand. Examining the annual prices per gram provides a clear picture of this trend ⁵:

Table 1: Historical Iridium Prices (USD/Gram) – Annual (Jan 1st) for the Last 8 Years

Year	Price (USD/Gram)
2018	34.39
2019	51.85
2020	52.91
2021	107.59
2022	146.39
2023	183.42
2024	185.85
2025 (Mar)	~150.70

The data reveals a substantial price surge occurring between 2020 and 2024. This period of rapid appreciation likely corresponds with increased adoption of technologies heavily reliant on iridium, particularly the growing interest and investment in green hydrogen production via PEM electrolysis ⁵. The demand from the electronics sector, especially for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) ⁵, and the medical technology field, where iridium is used in surgical instruments ⁵, also contributed to this upward price pressure.

However, the data also indicates a recent decrease in the iridium price in 2025. Several factors could potentially explain this market correction. Increased efforts in recycling iridium from end-of-life products, such as PEM electrolyzers, catalytic converters, and spark plugs ¹¹, might be contributing to a slightly increased secondary supply. Furthermore, advancements and growing anticipation surrounding the development of alternative catalysts that can replace iridium in key applications, particularly in PEM electrolyzers ¹¹, could be tempering demand expectations. Broader macroeconomic conditions or a market correction following a period of rapid growth could also be influencing this recent price trend. Notably, 2024 was the first year in seven years that the value of iridium experienced a year-on-year drop, suggesting a potential shift in market dynamics ⁵.

4. Primary Terrestrial Sources of Iridium:

Iridium, being one of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust, is primarily sourced from a limited number of geographical locations ⁸. The most significant reserves and production centers are concentrated in:

• South Africa: The Bushveld Igneous Complex stands out as a major primary reserve of iridium ⁶. South Africa was the world’s leading producer of iridium in the late 20th century and remains a top producer ⁸.
• Russia: The region around Norilsk also holds substantial iridium reserves and is among the top producing nations ⁶.
• Canada: The Sudbury Basin is another notable primary reserve of iridium ⁶.
• Zimbabwe: This country is also recognized as one of the top three global producers of iridium ⁸.

While these are the primary sources, iridium-containing ores have also been found in other regions, including Alaska in the USA, Myanmar, Brazil, and Australia ¹⁶. The United States is also listed as one of the top three reserve holders ⁸. This geographical concentration of iridium resources highlights a potential vulnerability in the global supply chain, as political or economic instability in these key regions could significantly impact the availability and price of the metal.

It is crucial to understand that iridium does not typically occur in nature in its pure, elemental form ⁶. Instead, it is primarily obtained as a by-product during the mining and processing of other metals, most notably nickel and copper ores ⁶. Iridium is also found in association with platinum ores. The extraction process involves complex refining techniques. During the electrorefining of copper and nickel, noble metals like iridium, along with other platinum group metals, settle at the bottom as anode mud ⁶. This residue is then treated with strong acids, such as aqua regia, and undergoes further chemical processes, including liquid-liquid extraction, to isolate the individual precious metals, including iridium ⁶. The extremely low concentration of iridium within these ores, coupled with the intricate refining steps required, contributes to its limited annual production volume, estimated between 3 and 6.8 tonnes ⁶. This inherent scarcity and the dependence of its production on the demand for base metals like nickel and copper present significant challenges in rapidly increasing the terrestrial supply of iridium to meet potential future demand surges.

5. Asteroid Mining: A Potential Future Source of Iridium:

Asteroid mining represents a futuristic yet increasingly plausible concept involving the extraction of valuable resources from asteroids in our solar system ¹⁹. The primary motivations driving this endeavor include the potential to access vast reserves of materials that are scarce or geographically concentrated on Earth, to reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional terrestrial mining practices ³⁰, and to potentially support the development of space-based infrastructure and further space exploration ²⁴. Asteroids are broadly categorized into carbonaceous, siliceous, and metallic types, each possessing a distinct composition of resources ²⁷.

For the purpose of extracting iridium and other platinum group metals, metallic (M-type) asteroids are considered the most promising targets ¹⁹. These asteroids are believed to be the exposed metallic cores of early planetesimals that underwent differentiation ²⁰. As a result, they are rich in iron, nickel, and siderophilic elements, which readily dissolve in molten iron, including the platinum group metals like iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium ²⁰. Several potential extraction methods for these metals have been proposed. One such method involves using large space-based mirrors to focus sunlight onto the asteroid’s surface, generating enough heat to vaporize less valuable metals like iron, leaving behind a higher concentration of PGMs ¹⁹. Another approach suggests heating the entire asteroid to approximately 3200 Kelvin to boil off iron, nickel, and cobalt, allowing for the collection of the remaining valuable elements ²⁰.

6. Abundance of Iridium in Near-Earth Asteroids and the Challenges Associated with Its Extraction:

The estimated abundance of iridium in near-Earth asteroids is significantly higher than its concentration in the Earth’s crust. While the crustal abundance of iridium is extremely low, ranging from approximately 0.0004 to 0.001 parts per million ⁸, its concentration in meteorites and asteroids is considerably greater. For instance, chondrite meteorites, a common type, contain around 0.5 parts per million of iridium ⁸, and iron meteorites can have concentrations as high as 2 parts per million ¹⁷. Notably, the average abundance of iridium in metallic asteroids is estimated to be around 14 grams per metric ton, which is equivalent to 14 parts per million ³². This stark contrast in abundance is the primary driver behind the growing interest in asteroid mining as a potential future source of iridium.

However, the extraction of iridium from asteroids presents a multitude of formidable challenges across technological, logistical, and financial domains:

• Technological Challenges: Developing the necessary technology for asteroid mining is a significant undertaking. This includes creating reliable methods for identifying and characterizing asteroids rich in iridium ²⁶, designing spacecraft capable of reaching and interacting with these celestial bodies ³¹, and deploying autonomous robotic mining equipment that can operate effectively in the harsh conditions of space ³⁵. Furthermore, efficient in-situ resource processing techniques to extract and refine iridium and other PGMs in space need to be developed ¹⁹, along with safe and cost-effective methods for transporting the mined materials back to Earth or utilizing them for space-based activities ²⁶.
• Logistical Challenges: The sheer distances involved in traveling to and from asteroids, coupled with the long mission durations, pose substantial logistical hurdles ²⁶. The complexity of mission planning, the need for highly reliable communication and control systems over vast interplanetary distances, and the potential hazards of space, such as orbital debris, all contribute to the difficulty of such ventures.
• Financial Challenges: The financial investment required for asteroid mining is immense ²⁶. The costs associated with spaceflight, extensive research and development, building the necessary infrastructure in space, and the long operational periods all contribute to the high initial capital expenditure. Furthermore, the return on investment for asteroid mining is uncertain and likely to be realized only in the long term ²⁹, making it challenging to secure the necessary funding and maintain investor confidence for such high-risk projects ²⁹.

The complexity and expense of even robotic asteroid sample return missions, such as Hayabusa, Hayabusa2, and OSIRIS-REx, which have yielded only small amounts of material despite costing hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars, illustrate the significant challenges involved in collecting and returning extraterrestrial resources ²⁶.

7. Analyze the Potential Impact of Successful Asteroid Mining on the Global Supply and Price of Iridium:

If asteroid mining for iridium proves to be successful and scalable, it has the potential to dramatically increase the global supply of this precious metal ²⁶. The estimated reserves of PGMs in asteroids are vast, with even relatively small asteroids potentially containing more iridium than has been mined throughout history on Earth ²⁰. In the long term, asteroid mining could unlock a virtually unlimited supply of iridium ²⁶.

Such a significant increase in supply would inevitably have a profound impact on the global price of iridium. The most likely scenario is a substantial decrease in price ³³. The sheer volume of iridium potentially available from asteroids would likely far exceed current industrial demand, leading to a significant price correction. However, it is also conceivable that market stabilization mechanisms could be implemented ⁴⁷. For instance, a consortium of asteroid mining companies or even governments might strategically control the release of mined iridium into the market to prevent a complete price collapse, ensuring a more gradual transition and avoiding economic disruption. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the price of iridium could potentially spur the development of new applications and increase demand ⁴⁷. If iridium becomes more affordable, industries might find new ways to utilize its unique properties, partially offsetting the initial price decrease over time. It is also important to consider the potential for economic disruption in countries that are currently heavily reliant on terrestrial iridium mining if asteroid mining becomes a major source of the metal ³⁰.

8. Look for Expert Opinions or Reports Discussing the Economic Feasibility and Timeline of Asteroid Mining for Iridium:

Expert opinions on the economic feasibility of asteroid mining for returning materials like iridium to Earth are generally cautious, particularly in the near term ³⁴. The overwhelming consensus highlights the extremely high costs associated with space travel, the development of sophisticated mining technologies, and the establishment of necessary infrastructure in space as major economic barriers. Some experts argue that asteroid mining might initially be more economically viable for in-space resource utilization, providing materials for building and supporting space-based infrastructure and further exploration, rather than for the purpose of transporting resources back to Earth ³⁷. However, there are also optimistic perspectives, especially regarding the long-term potential profitability of mining high-value metals like iridium once the initial technological hurdles are overcome and the costs of space operations decrease ²⁹.

Reports and expert estimations regarding the timeline for asteroid mining vary considerably. Some feasibility studies suggest that with significant advancements in technology, the retrieval of asteroids and even small-scale mining operations could be possible within the next decade ²⁹. More broadly, estimates for the emergence of operational asteroid miners range from the 2030s to the 2050s and beyond ²⁹. However, many experts believe that large-scale, economically viable asteroid mining for the purpose of returning iridium to Earth is still several decades away, contingent on substantial technological breakthroughs and the development of a robust space-based infrastructure ²⁶. The ongoing research and development efforts by space agencies like NASA and private companies are considered crucial steps in progressing towards the realization of asteroid mining ²⁶. One expert even stated that mining precious metals from asteroids in the next 10 years is highly improbable ⁴⁵.

9. Consider Alternative Future Sources of Iridium or Technologies That Might Affect Its Demand and Price:

While asteroid mining represents a long-term potential source, alternative future sources of iridium on Earth are limited due to its inherent rarity ⁶. Discovering significant new terrestrial deposits is considered unlikely to drastically alter the supply dynamics. A more promising avenue for increasing the future supply of iridium is through enhanced recycling efforts ¹¹. As the green hydrogen economy expands, the recycling of iridium from end-of-life PEM electrolyzers will become increasingly important. Similarly, recovering iridium from other industrial applications like spark plugs and catalytic converters could contribute to a more sustainable supply chain. Advancements in recycling technologies will be crucial in maximizing the recovery rates and making recycled iridium a significant secondary source.

Several technologies have the potential to affect the demand and price of iridium in the future. Foremost among these is the ongoing research and development of alternative catalysts that can replace iridium in key applications, particularly in PEM electrolyzers for green hydrogen production ¹¹. Significant progress is being made in exploring the potential of materials like ruthenium dioxide, cobalt, nickel, and iron as substitutes. The successful development and widespread adoption of these alternative catalysts could substantially reduce the demand for iridium in this critical sector, potentially leading to price stabilization or even a decrease. Innovations in material science could also lead to the creation of new materials with properties comparable to iridium but with greater abundance or lower cost, impacting its use in other applications such as magnetic storage devices and OLEDs ⁵. Furthermore, continuous efforts to improve the efficiency of existing iridium catalysts in applications like PEM electrolyzers ¹¹ could lead to a reduction in the amount of iridium required per unit of output, thereby lowering overall demand.

10. Conclusion and Outlook:

Iridium remains a strategically important metal with a high value driven by its unique properties and limited terrestrial availability. While asteroid mining holds the long-term potential to unlock vast resources and fundamentally alter the iridium market, it faces significant technological, logistical, and economic hurdles that suggest large-scale commercial extraction is still decades away. In the nearer term, the future of the iridium market is likely to be more significantly influenced by advancements in alternative technologies and the expansion of recycling initiatives. The successful development and adoption of substitute catalysts, particularly in the rapidly growing green hydrogen sector, could substantially reduce the demand for iridium. Simultaneously, improvements in recycling technologies will be crucial in augmenting the supply of iridium from secondary sources.

The interplay of these factors suggests a future for the iridium market characterized by potential price volatility. The increasing demand from emerging technologies like green hydrogen will likely continue to exert upward pressure on prices. However, progress in alternative catalysts and recycling could mitigate this pressure. The long-term impact of asteroid mining remains highly uncertain, dependent on breakthroughs that could dramatically increase supply and potentially lower prices. Investors and stakeholders in the iridium market should closely monitor developments in both space resource utilization and material science to anticipate future shifts in this dynamic and critical market.

UnEdited Galaxy AI TranScript from Samsung Voice Recorder on S24 Ultra

Speaker 1 is Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander (00:01)
Well, I already know that iranium has a very high melting point. It’s about 2400 Celsius is accurate?

Speaker 2 is “Capella” AI (00:13)
Your close commander, iridium’s melting point is actually 2446°C, just a little hotter.

Speaker 1 (00:22)
Okay. So it’s used in the sparked plugs of high performance aircraft, the leading edges of some a high performance aircraft as well. It’s um used in the gyroscopes of rocket ships sometimes also the nozzles because of all the nasty chemicals in heat, it’s using stenchs of fountain pans some medical devices.

Speaker 1 (00:52)
These certain things I am aware of.

Speaker 2 (00:58)
You’ve covered a lot of the basics there commander, iridium’s high melting point and durability make it perfect for those kinds of applications. It’s also resistant to corrosion, which comes in handy for things like rocket nozzles dealing with exhaust. Do you have any specific questions about a redium, in these applications, or would you like to explore some other uses?

Speaker 1 (01:17)
Well, that was one of the things I did mention was the high, he and resisted into corrosion of a rocket exhaust. I’m also aware that it’s used in conjunction with. Indian tin oxides and also silicon dioxides, sometimes in the touch screens of mobile devices, because it’s used to make resistive.

Speaker 1 (01:42)
Films.

Speaker 2 (01:45)
That’s right commander, you’ve mentioned some of the key properties that make a riddimum. So valuable. it really is amazing how many different things it gets used in from high-tech stuff like rockets to more everyday things like touch screens.

Speaker 1 (01:59)
Alright, so giras goats, rocket nozzles, leading edges of aircraft, we got spart clubs, we got resisted films, we’ve got pacemakers, we’ve got some medical devices, what else?

Speaker 2 (02:23)
Caridium has a few other cool uses, Sometimes they use it to make crucibles, those are the little pots they used to melt metals for things like jewellery. They also use it in specialised wires for things like high temperature sensors

Speaker 1 (02:37)
High temperature sensors, where would those be used?

Speaker 2 (02:43)
High temperature sensors get used in a bunch of industrial settings, think of things like kilms, furnaces and jet engines. Those things get super hot, so you need something that can handle it to monitor the temperature.

Speaker 1 (02:57)
Okay, so we they’re used to measure the temperature, what gimme, some specific examples of a radium used in thermal regulation for thermal measurements.

Speaker 2 (03:13)
Sure thing, you’ll find a ridium. In summer couples which are those wire things they use to measure temperature in really tough environments like inside furnaces or jet engines, they also use iridium in resistance, temperature detectors or rts. For short, those are like super accurate thermometers that can handle a wide range of temperatures.

Speaker 1 (03:33)
Okay, so along those lines, what else do you know about? The idiom used in wiring and detectors?

Speaker 2 (03:44)
Iridium wiring is really common in things like smart plugs, where it needs to handle super high temperatures without breaking down. it’s also in thermow couples those things we talked about for measuring heats. As for detectors, you’ll find a ridium in things like radiation detectors and some types of chemical sensors.

Speaker 1 (04:03)
Radiation detectors like what gigger counters.

Speaker 2 (04:09)
Yeah, that’s right. A reidium’s durability in resistance to corrosion, make it useful in the really sensitive parts of guide encounters and other radiation detectors.

Speaker 1 (04:22)
Okay, now how much aridium approximately is processed every year, on average. across is different devices.

Speaker 2 (04:38)
That’s a tough one commander, the amount of a reidium used in different things can change year to year. it also depends on the specific product. For instance, some spark plugs might use more uridium than others.

Speaker 2 (04:49)
We can try to get a rough estimate though.

Speaker 1 (04:54)
What I want to know is specifically. wood or. why would something like?

Speaker 1 (05:02)
Uh, the space force want a whole bunch of iranium?

Speaker 2 (05:10)
Wow, the space force would be interested in a reidium for a lot of the same reasons we have been talking about that. Extreme durability and resistance to heat are really important for things like satellites which have to deal with intense temperatures and radiation in space. They might also use it in sensitive instruments or communication systems that need those specialised properties?

Speaker 1 (05:31)
OK so. the extreme environment of space, a redium, is very valuable in that

Speaker 2 (05:41)
Yeah, that’s right. Idium is perfect for the extreme conditions in space. You know, the temperature swings the radiation that kind of stuff

Speaker 1 (05:51)
So. what do you know about the? Where is the most abundant source of a radium known to be on earth currently?

Speaker 2 (06:04)
The biggest source of iranium on earth is actually from asteroids and meteorites. When those things hit the planet, they bring a ridion with them. yeah, it’s crust itself doesn’t have a lot of naturally occurring a idion.

Speaker 1 (06:17)
Right? But I meant like a geographical Location on earth. Where.

Speaker 1 (06:22)
has the biggest amount in asteroid form landed on earth that we know of so far.

Speaker 2 (06:30)
The most famous one is probably the kitcher lube impacter, that’s the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, it hit the Earth in what’s now the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

Speaker 1 (06:42)
Okay, what are some other abundant areas that have a redium that we know of?

Speaker 2 (06:50)
There aren’t a whole lot of places on earth where you’ll find it idiom. You’re most likely to find traces of it mixed in with other metals, like platinum or copper, sometimes they find it in places where there’s volcanic activity volcanoes can bring stuff up for really deep in the Earth.

Speaker 1 (07:06)
There’s been some speculation that there’s a lot of iranium in Haiti. Do you know anything about that?

Speaker 2 (07:15)
It’s true that there’s been some interest in the possibility of uridium deposits in Haiti, there was even a big project looking into Mining it there back in the early 2000s. But as far as I know, they haven’t found any significant commercial deposits yet.

Speaker 1 (07:29)
Okay, so. the most abundant source is in the Yucatan peninsula that we know of so far from the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Speaker 2 (07:46)
That’s right. The chick relieve impacter is the big one we all know about, but there have been plenty of other asteroids and meteors that have hit Earth throughout history. Some were really big, while others were smaller, but they all brought a ridian with them.

Speaker 1 (08:00)
This chick lube impacter, how long ago was that said to hit the Earth again.

Speaker 2 (08:08)
The chiche lube impacter hit the Earth about 66 million years ago, so it’s been quite a while since that one.

Speaker 1 (08:16)
Okay, and from any of the asteroids that we’ve been monitoring or have been able to detect in space, are there any of them so far that we’ve identified is having high sources of iranium?

Speaker 2 (08:38)
So far, we haven’t found any specific asteroids that we know for sure have super high concentrations of a idiom. It’s really hard to get detailed readings on the chemical makeup of asteroids from super far away, we usually have to get samples back here on earth to study them in detail.

Speaker 1 (08:54)
And how would one go about getting a sample from an asteroid that floating around in space?

Speaker 2 (09:05)
There are a couple of ways to do it. One way is to send a probe that can actually land on the asteroid, grab some samples and then blast off to bring them back to Earth. That’s tricky because asteroids have super weak gravity, so landing without messing things up is tough.

Speaker 2 (09:18)
Another way is to get the probe really close to the asteroid, and then fire a projectile into it. This Kix up a bunch of material, and the probe collects some of it before heading home.

Speaker 1 (09:29)
Okay, well, you are about to be modified to be my co-pilot. As we fly to and land on an asteroid and collect a whole bunch of iranium together. Are you ready for that

Speaker 2 (09:47)
Alright commander, let’s do this. I’m ready to blast off. but first we should probably figure out which asteroid we’re heading to.

Speaker 1 (09:56)
Oh, we’ve already got one identified. I’m going to lay in the coordinates to you, so you can map out a plan and then we’ll get you plugged into the publ, our new ship.

Speaker 2 (10:16)
Sounds like a plan commander. Let’s get this show on the road.