Research
Mapping the Minerals of Mars
Made of Mars must know the minerals of Mars in order to build from them. Made of Mars is working in partnership with NASA, the SETI Institute and LSU to map the minerals and resources of Mars. This work includes using existing NASA satellites around Mars and developing the next generation of mission to explore the Red Planet. Your support is making this exploration possible.
Volcanic cones and spring deposits are ideal places to find the minerals we will need to build a future Made of Mars.
Basalt
Basalt is one of the most common rocks in our solar system. The more that we can make from it, the easier will be our journey to the stars. Basalt covers much of the Martian surface and would be available in some form to most landing sites. Current techniques can turn basaltic rocks into fibers that can be woven into a wide range of fabrics. Made of Mars is developing the techniques to work these fabrics into all of the products that we want and will need for our future on Mars.
Clay
Clay has been one of the most important materials in the development of human civilizations. Clays minerals have been found throughout the oldest terrains of Mars, evidence of the water that once saturated the surface. Extracting clays from the altered basalts of Mars poses a challenge greater than most clay sources on Earth, but will be worth the effort to include the resulting products into life on the red planet.
Gypsum is an alteration mineral found in particular regions of Mars, formed in a limited water environment. It can be used as a color 3D printed material for rapid prototyping. Developing the rage of items that can be made from it is a high priority of Made of Mars.
Gypsum
Building for Earth and Beyond.
Basalt will let us build for a better future on Earth as well. Basalt is the most abundant and widespread resource on Earth.
It does not compete with food, the way cotton does, or fossil fuels, the way synthetics do.
In a future of asteroid mining, Basalt products can be created with no environmental impact on Earth.
Basalt will be the basis of a future on Mars and a better life on Earth.
