The ability to manufacture metals is a basic prerequisite to any technological civilization. Mars provides copious resources to support their production.   In essence, Mars is richer than Earth in this aspect.

    Silver

    Without a doubt, the most accessible industrial metal present on Mars is iron. The primary commercial ore of iron, hematite, is so ubiquitous on Mars that it give the planet its color. There are two reactions to reduce hematite to pure iron;

1) Fe₂O₃ + 3CO ---> 2Fe + 3CO2

2) Fe₂O₃ + 3H₂ ---> 2Fe + 3H₂O

    Both of these reactions are exothermic, therefore, after the reaction has been heated up to startup conditions, neither requires any power to run. Carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and silicon, the four main alloying elements for steel, are very common on Mars. Thus, one the iron has been produced, it can be readily alloyed with appropriate quantities of these other elements to produce practically any type of carbon or stainless steel desired.

    Aluminum

    Aluminum is a fairly prevalent element on Mars, comprising about four percent of the planet's surface material by weight. However, a problem does exist with aluminum. Like Earth, aluminum on Mars is generally present only in the form of alumina (Al₂O₃). In order to produce aluminum on Mars, the following reaction would have to be undertaken:

1) Al₂O₃ + 3C ---> 2Al + 3CO

    This reaction is extremely endothermic; it requires about 20 kilo watts of electricity to produce a single kilogram of aluminum. Therefore, steel, not aluminum will be used as the primary material to build high strength structures. The applications for aluminum will be electrical wiring or flight system components, where its high conductivity will be extremely useful.

    Silicon

    Silicon has emerged as an extremely prominent element that's uses are infinite. On Mars, by manufacturing silicon, we will be able to produce photovoltaic panels, thus continually increasing the base's power supply. The source for manufacturing silicon metal, silicon dioxide, makes up almost 45% of the Martian crust by weight. In order to make silicon, the following reaction must occur:

1) SiO₂ + 2C ---> Si + 2CO

    The reaction is endothermic, however not nearly as bad as the aluminum reaction. Some of the uses of silicon include using it as a heat resistant material in tiles to protect the Space Shuttle from the heat of reentry; using it for computer chips and solar panels; using it to fire the boiler of a steam engine or a ramjet engine for rocket propulsion.

    Copper