Minerals

Minerals are natural resources needed as raw material for setup and extension of settlements on Mars. From recent unmanned missions some valuable minerals have been found, most of them by the Mössbauer spectrometer MIMOS II.

The Way the Future Shouldn’t Be Steve Davidson Grasping for the Wind A discussion of how good hard sf is hard to find ndayowas. I'd disagree, thinking of Schroeder, Watts, and Vinge (to name just three who come immediately to mind, all white men admittedly) but on the media end of things I suspect this is sadly true: Now, science fiction seems to only serve the entertainment function. Practitioners seem to distance themselves from prognostication as if it were an illegal or socially unacceptable activity.

Hematite

Chemical formula: α-Fe₂O₃

This mineral has been found at the landing zone of Opportunity.

Olivine

Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄

This mineral has been found in Gusev Crater.

Salt

Calcium carbonate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and perchlorate have been found by the Phoenix lander (http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/09_09_pr.php). Chloride, perhaps table salt, have also been found by Mars Odyssey.

References

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