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Resources are the foundation of your Martian colony. Understanding production chains, storage, and consumption is critical for survival.

Resource Categories

Resources are divided into three main categories:

• Basic Resources: Extracted or produced automatically (Concrete, Metals, Water, Polymers)
• Manufactured Resources: Require colonist workers (Food, Machine Parts, Electronics)
• Advanced Resources: Fuel, Rare Metals, and specialized products

Basic Resources

Concrete

Concrete is the most important early-game resource. Nearly every building requires concrete.

Production:

• Concrete Extractor: Place on concrete deposits (yellow hexagons on surface)
• One deposit supports up to 3 extractors
• Production: ~24 units/Sol per extractor
• Produces waste rock (requires Waste Rock Dump)

Uses:

• All buildings require concrete
• Domes: 30-60 concrete each
• Cables and pipes: 1-2 concrete each

Management tips:

• Build 2-3 extractors before colonists arrive
• Stockpile 150+ concrete before major construction
• Waste rock accumulation stops production - build dumps nearby

Metals

Metals are essential for advanced buildings and manufacturing.

Acquisition:

• Surface metal: Visible deposits, collect with drones (one-time)
• Metal Extractor: Place on underground deposits
• Earth supply: Expensive but reliable
• Meteor strikes: Random metal deposits

Production rate:

• Metal Extractor: ~8 units/Sol
• Surface deposits: 5-15 units (depletes)

Uses:

• Building construction (most buildings need 5-15 metals)
• Machine Parts production (2 metals per part)
• Electronics production (1 metal per unit)
• Rocket maintenance

Research upgrades:

• Extractor AI: Removes worker requirement
• Deep Metal Extraction: +50% production
• Triboelectric Scrubbers: Reduced maintenance

Water

Water is critical for colonist survival and food production.

Production methods:

• Water Extractor: Place on water deposits (blue underground)
• Moisture Vaporator: Extracts from atmosphere (less efficient, 1-2 water/Sol)
• Ice surface deposits: One-time collection

Production:

• Water Extractor: ~10 units/Sol
• Moisture Vaporator: 1.5 units/Sol (average)

Consumption:

• Colonists: 1 unit/Sol each
• Service buildings: Variable (Grocer, Diner, Spa)
• Farms: 1-2 units/Sol depending on crops
• Fuel production: 1 water → 1 fuel

Storage:

• Water Tank: 50 capacity
• Recommended: 1 tank per 20 colonists

Tech upgrades:

• Water Reclamation System: -50% colonist consumption
• Water Extractor Amplification: +100% production

Polymers

Polymers are required for domes and advanced buildings.

Acquisition:

• Surface deposits: Scattered around map (limited)
• Polymer Factory: Produces 3/Sol with 3 workers
• Earth supply: Expensive
• Dust Devils: Rare random drops

Uses:

• Dome construction: 10 polymers per dome
• Electronics production: 1 polymer per unit
• Advanced buildings
• Cable/pipe upgrades

Production strategy:

• Collect all surface polymers first
• Build Polymer Factory when you have spare engineers
• Order from Earth if necessary for first dome

Manufactured Resources

Food

Food production is essential for colony self-sufficiency.

Production buildings:

Crop types:

• Wheat: Standard yield
• Soybeans: +10% yield with research
• Corn: +20% yield with specific tech
• Fruit Trees: Slow growth, high comfort bonus

Self-sufficiency calculation:

• 1 Farm feeds ~20-25 colonists
• 1 Hydroponic Farm feeds ~30-35 colonists
• Plan farms early: Training botanists takes 5-10 Sols

Tips:

• Build farms inside domes (requires soil preparation)
• Train non-specialists into Botanists at University
• Research Crop Adaptation for +30% yield
• Use Grocer to distribute food efficiently

Machine Parts

Machine parts are consumed by building maintenance.

Production:

• Machine Parts Factory: 3 units/Sol with 3 engineers
• Earth supply: $100M per part (expensive)

Consumption:

• All buildings require periodic maintenance
• Average consumption: 1 part per 2-3 Sols for a small colony
• Extractors and factories consume more

Management:

• Keep 10+ parts in storage at all times
• Build factory early (Sol 20-30)
• Each factory supports ~40-50 buildings

Research:

• Prefab Compression: -25% production cost
• Nano Refinement: +50% production speed

Electronics

Electronics are needed for advanced buildings and research.

Production:

• Electronics Factory: 3 units/Sol with 3 engineers
• Requires: 1 Metal + 1 Polymer + 1 Rare Metal per unit
• Earth supply: $200M per unit (very expensive)

Uses:

• Research buildings (Research Lab needs 5-10)
• Advanced production facilities
• Wonders and unique buildings
• Rocket components

Production strategy:

• Not needed until mid-game (Sol 50+)
• Requires stable rare metal production
• One factory sufficient for most colonies

Advanced Resources

Fuel

Fuel enables rocket returns to Earth and shuttle transport.

Production:

• Fuel Refinery: Converts water + CO2 → methane + oxygen
• Production: 10 units/Sol
• Power: 5 units required

Uses:

• Rocket refueling: ~60 fuel per launch
• Shuttle transport between domes
• Trading rockets

Strategy:

• Build after establishing water production
• One refinery sufficient for 2-3 rockets
• Stockpile 100+ fuel before requesting colonists

Rare Metals

Rare metals are your primary income source.

Production:

• Rare Metal Extractor: Place on rare metal deposits (scan required)
• Production: 1-2 units/Sol (varies by deposit quality)
• Geologists provide production bonus

Uses:

• Export to Earth: $30M per unit (main colony income)
• Electronics production: 1 per unit
• Wonder construction
• Advanced technologies

Economic strategy:

• Export rare metals to fund colony expansion
• Balance between export income and electronics production
• Research Deep Rare Metal Extraction for +100% production

Waste Rock

Waste rock is a byproduct of all extraction operations.

Generation:

• All extractors produce 1-2 waste rock per production cycle
• Accumulates near extractors
• Blocks production when pile reaches limit

Management:

• Waste Rock Dump: Stores 50 units, place near extractors
• Drones: Automatically transport to dumps
• Waste Rock Liquification (tech): Converts to concrete
• Waste Rock Reprocessing (tech): Extracts rare metals

Strategy:

• Build 1 dump per 2-3 extractors
• Research liquification for long-term solution
• Place dumps outside main colony (not pretty)

Resource Production Chains

Early Game (Sol 1-30)

Concrete → Buildings → Colony Infrastructure
Metal → Machine Parts → Maintenance
Water → Colonists → Survival
Surface Polymers → Domes → Housing

Mid Game (Sol 30-100)

Water → Food (Farms) → Self-Sufficiency
Metals + Polymers → Electronics → Research
Rare Metals → Export → Funding
Fuel Production → Rocket Returns

Late Game (Sol 100+)

Waste Rock → Concrete (liquification)
Rare Metals → Electronics → Wonders
Automated Production → Expansion
Terraforming Resources (DLC)

Storage Management

Universal Depot

• Capacity: 20 units per resource type
• Radius: Medium
• Place near production facilities
• Recommended: 1 per industrial zone

Specialized Storage

• Water Tank: 50 water capacity
• Fuel Tank: 60 fuel capacity
• Place near domes for distribution

Storage Tips

• Depot radius matters: Ensure coverage
• Drones prioritize nearest depot
• Stockpile critical resources (food, machine parts)
• Monitor storage levels in UI

Resource Optimization

Drone Efficiency

• Place depots strategically to minimize drone travel
• Use drone hubs to expand coverage
• Research Drone Swarm for more drones per hub

Production Balancing

• Calculate consumption rates vs production
• Example: 20 colonists = 20 food/Sol needed
• Build production buildings before population grows

Import Strategy

• Import rare/expensive resources only when critical
• Bulk orders reduce per-unit cost
• Plan imports around rocket arrivals (every 10-15 Sols)

Export Strategy

• Export rare metals for maximum profit
• Wait for favorable prices (market fluctuates)
• Balance export income vs electronics needs

Critical Thresholds

Minimum stockpiles for stability:

• Concrete: 100 units
• Metals: 50 units
• Machine Parts: 10 units
• Food: 50 units (2-3 Sol buffer)
• Water: 30 units (stored in tanks)
• Polymers: 20 units

Warning signs:

• Resources dropping below minimum → reduce consumption or increase production
• Waste rock piling up → build more dumps
• Food shortage → emergency Earth order + build farms

Related Pages

• Buildings - Resource production facilities
• Colonists - Resource consumers and workers
• Technologies - Production efficiency upgrades