Lunar regolith processing system for mining and beneficiation

A method of processing lunar regolith, comprising:

• extracting regolith from a lunar surface;
• conveying a portion of the extracted regolith including rock fragments and finely crushed particles to a mill;
• operating the mill to agitate the portion of the extracted regolith, without applying heat to the portion of the extracted regolith, such that the agitation of the portion of the extracted regolith releases volatile gases including hydrogen, helium-3, and helium-4 from the portion of the extracted regolith;
• and
• conveying the volatile gases from the mill to a refinery.

A lunar regolith processing system, comprising:

• an excavator configured to extract regolith from a lunar surface;
• a mill configured to receive a portion of the extracted regolith from the excavator, and agitate the portion of the extracted regolith such that the agitation of the portion of the extracted regolith releases volatile gases including hydrogen, helium-3, and helium-4 from the portion of the extracted regolith;
• a refinery;
• and
• a vacuum pump configured to pump the released volatile gases from the mill to the refinery,
• wherein the lunar regolith processing system is configured to flow a diluent gas to the mill to increase gas pressure in the mill during the pumping of the released volatile gases from the mill to the refinery.