From my paper notes from years ago:
* Find Near Earth Objects (NEO) catalog(s)
* Determine what is of value [e.g. precious metals]
* Make qualifications list
* Find candidate and rank by value, cost (capture and building), and both
* Pick optimal targets
* Devise methods of capture & construction
* Present plans to backer(s)
I recall thinking that near earth asteroids would take less fuel for transport of, to and from. I also recall thinking and that asteroids have low gravity which makes it easier to escape from.
I was holding back on publishing this post, but now seems appropriate given the recent passing of the US “2015 Space Act”. Details are at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining#Legal_regimes
Other recent news includes NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Scout (NEAScout http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cubesat/missions/neascout.php ) which is going to launch as a secondary payload on the 2018 Space Launch System (SLS) Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) (story at: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/11/nasa-identifies-secondary-payloads-sls-em-1/ ). This mission should help figure out what other Near Earth Asteroids are made of.
Drew Daniels
Resume: http://www.boxheap.net/ddaniels/resume.html