General-Purpose Element-Extracting Process

Proposed ore-refining or element-extracting process nonspecific: decomposes any ore or other raw material into constituent elements, regardless of composition. Enables conversion of ores into elements and recombination of elements into usefulmaterials as necessary. Effected on small scale to supplement such other mineral-refining processes as fluidized-bed reduction or carbochlorination. Alternatively, effected on large scale to produce wide range of materials. Conceived to provide materials for self-sufficient lunar base from such local ores as anorthite, ilmenite, and olivine. Proves useful on Earth in recovery or extraction of scarce, valuable, or hazardous materials.