Ore weight

[SvarogZ]

It is no secret that quite often we transport ore from another planet in order to refine it at the plant to pure. In some cases, transporting ore is more advantageous in terms of mass. For the following ores, we can see the correct behaviour when the ore is heavier than pure:

Silicon, Calcium, Sodium, Lithium, Sulfur, Fluorine, Gold, Titanium, Vanadium.

Of course, we can talk about the numbers, but in general, the behaviour is correct.

 

For all other ores, the situation is ridiculous.

 

Simple math for hematite.

Let's assume that hematite is Fe2O3 with a density of 5.25 kg/L.

According to the chemical reaction, we can get at most 70% iron by mass.

This means that from 1 litre of hematite we can get 3.675 kg of iron and 1.57 kg of oxygen, or 47% of the volume of iron and 157% of liquid oxygen.

Existing refiners produce 51.75L of iron from 55.25L of hematite, but we actually have to take 100.5L of hematite. That means 45L of 130L without the bonuses.

I'm not claiming realism because 110.5*157%=173L of oxygen would probably break the production line.

 

I think we should adjust all ores to be well heavier than pures to make transporting of pures more profitable.