I'd agree that mining companies wouldn't be using hi-yield devices, something that most governments would control strictly.
part kt yields are also counter-productive as nukes would more than vaporize the material that they'd be wanting to mine and the fragments would be
moving at a high velocity afterwards.
chemical explosives perhaps, problems there as well but definitely more do-able than nukes for all sorts of reasons in this instance
grappling larger asteroids and then using lasers or machinery to cut the pieces up would seem to be more effective
particularly if the there was some way of ensuring that there was a way to bring most of the desired material into the ship
T.
________________________________
From: Antony Farrell
Sent: Tue, March 23, 2010 1:49:36 AM
Subject: RE: [Traveller_TNE] Mining Vessels
I don't think the mining company would be looking at high yield devices for
breaking up asteroids but low, perhaps part kiloton yields. Of course they
could send someone down to place lots of conventional charges like current
open cut mining practices.
Lasers could be used, use a much smaller array than a standard missile as
range does not have to be much. But until tractors come in you then still
have to gather and process all the chunks.
Perhaps the best would be a combination of explosives and then the vessel
attaches to the rock with one of those big wheel shovel things (whatever
they are called) and moves the shattered rock direct into the processors.
Antony