The Martian Gold Frontier: Geochemical Potential, Extraction Technologies, and Techno-Economic Pathways for Precious-Metal Mining in the Inner Solar System
La frontera del oro marciano: potencial geoquímico, tecnologías de extracción y vías técnico-económicas para la minería de metales preciosos en el sistema solar interior.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53673/th.v6i3.634Palabras clave:
Mars; space mining; gold; precious metals; platinum-group elements; ISRU; Phobos; Deimos; asteroids; planetary economic geology.Resumen
Human expansion beyond Earth requires a transition from supply architectures dominated by terrestrial launch to systems capable of identifying, extracting, and transforming extraterrestrial resources. This article critically evaluates the potential for gold (Au), platinum-group elements (PGEs), and strategic metals on Mars, placing the Red Planet at the center of a possible inner-Solar-System mineral economy. An integrative review of 40 scientific sources with verifiable DOIs covers Martian geochemistry, meteorites, highly siderophile elements, magmatic and hydrothermal metallogenesis, impacts, water and ice, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), drilling, regolith processing, asteroids, the Martian moons, and space economics. Evidence confirms Au and other HSEs in Martian materials, while plausible concentration mechanisms include sulfide segregation, hydrothermal activity, impact systems, and sedimentary processes. No direct evidence, however, demonstrates a Martian gold deposit with grade, tonnage, and continuity sufficient for classification as an exploitable resource. A Space Gold Prospectivity Index (SGPI) is proposed to prioritize exploration targets by integrating geology, accessibility, water, energy, technology maturity, and uncertainty. The analysis concludes that water, oxygen, propellants, and structural materials are likely to precede Au as economically relevant products; at later stages Mars could evolve into an industrial and logistical node linked to Phobos, Deimos, asteroids, and volatile-rich bodies. The Martian gold frontier should therefore be understood as a planetary economic-geology research program rather than as a demonstrated mineral reserve.
Citas
Rapp, D., & Inglezakis, V. J. (2024). Mars In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) with Focus on Atmospheric Processing for Near-Term Application—A Historical Review and Appraisal. Applied Sciences, 14(2), 653. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020653
Rapp, D., & Hoffman, S. J. (2020). Mars in situ resource utilization: A review. Planetary and Space Science, 182, 104824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2019.104824
Karl, D., Cannon, K. M., & Gurlo, A. (2022). Review of space resources processing for Mars missions: Martian simulants, regolith bonding concepts and additive manufacturing. Open Ceramics, 9, 100216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2021.100216
Hoffman, J. A., Hecht, M. H., Rapp, D., et al. (2022). Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE)—Preparing for human Mars exploration. Science Advances, 8(35), eabp8636. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abp8636
Hoffman, J. A., Hinterman, E. R., Hecht, M. H., Rapp, D., & Hartvigsen, J. J. (2023). 18 Months of MOXIE (Mars oxygen ISRU experiment) operations on the surface of Mars—Preparing for human Mars exploration. Acta Astronautica, 210, 547–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.04.045
Day, J. M. D., Brandon, A. D., & Walker, R. J. (2016). Highly siderophile elements in Earth, Mars, the Moon, and asteroids. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 81(1), 161–238. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2016.81.04
Warren, P. H., Kallemeyn, G. W., & Kyte, F. T. (1999). Origin of planetary cores: Evidence from highly siderophile elements in Martian meteorites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 63(13–14), 2105–2122. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00156-8
Brandon, A. D., Walker, R. J., Morgan, J. W., & Goles, G. G. (2003). Signatures of the highly siderophile elements in the SNC meteorites and Mars: A review and petrologic synthesis. Chemical Geology, 196(1–4), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00404-7
Brasser, R., & Mojzsis, S. J. (2017). A colossal impact enriched Mars' mantle with noble metals. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(12), 5978–5985. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074002
Baumgartner, R. J., Fiorentini, M. L., Baratoux, D., Micklethwaite, S., Sener, A. K., Lorand, J.-P., & McCuaig, T. C. (2015). Magmatic controls on the genesis of Ni-Cu±(PGE) sulphide mineralisation on Mars. Ore Geology Reviews, 65, 400–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.10.004
Palin, R. M., Robb, L., Gardiner, N. J., Koopmans, L., Sihombing, F., Sayab, M., Wade, J., & Elardo, S. M. (2025). Potential strategic ore deposits on Mars: Implications for in situ resource utilization. Earth-Science Reviews, 271, 105290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2025.105290
West, M. D., & Clarke, J. D. A. (2010). Potential Martian mineral resources: Mechanisms and terrestrial analogues. Planetary and Space Science, 58(4), 574–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2009.06.007
Osinski, G. R., Tornabene, L. L., Banerjee, N. R., et al. (2013). Impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Earth and Mars. Icarus, 224(2), 347–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2012.08.030
Marzo, G. A., Davila, A. F., Tornabene, L. L., Dohm, J. M., Fairén, A. G., Gross, C., Kneissl, T., Bishop, J. L., Roush, T. L., & McKay, C. P. (2010). Evidence for Hesperian impact-induced hydrothermalism on Mars. Icarus, 208(2), 667–683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2010.03.013
Barnhart, C. J., Nimmo, F., & Travis, B. J. (2010). Martian post-impact hydrothermal systems incorporating freezing. Icarus, 208(1), 101–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2010.01.013
Alsemgeest, J., Christou, E., & Brouwer, F. M. (2024). Evolution of impact-generated hydrothermal systems in basaltic targets on Earth and implications for habitats on Mars. Icarus, 417, 116140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116140
Bibring, J.-P., Langevin, Y., Mustard, J. F., et al. (2006). Global mineralogical and aqueous Mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars Express data. Science, 312(5772), 400–404. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1122659
Ehlmann, B. L., Mustard, J. F., Fassett, C. I., et al. (2008). Clay minerals in delta deposits and organic preservation potential on Mars. Nature Geoscience, 1, 355–358. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo207
Courville, S. W., Putzig, N. E., Morgan, G. A., et al. (2026). Subsurface water ice mapping on Mars: A probabilistic approach. The Planetary Science Journal, 7, 183. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ae8904
Pajola, M., Pozzobon, R., Silvestro, S., et al. (2022). Geology, in-situ resource-identification and engineering analysis of the Vernal crater area (Arabia Terra): A suitable Mars human landing site candidate. Planetary and Space Science, 213, 105444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2022.105444
Zeng, X., Wu, H., Xu, Y., Liu, H., Xie, B., & Liu, H. (2025). Analysis of suitable site candidates for Mars human habitat and life-support technologies based on in situ water resource utilization. Life Sciences in Space Research, 45, 91–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2025.02.001
Stolov, L., Palmowski, J., Zacny, K., Yen, B., Mellerowicz, B., Mank, Z., Sanasarian, L., & Schultz, J. (2026). Deep drilling on Mars: Pneumatic chip clearing model for the RedWater mining system. Space and Planetary Resources, 2, 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44461-026-00013-y
Zheng, W., & Qiao, G. (2022). Metal alloys obtained from solid Martian regolith simulant by an electrochemical reduction process. Advances in Space Research, 70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2022.05.047
Ma, S., Fu, S., Wang, Q., et al. (2022). 3D printing of damage-tolerant Martian regolith simulant-based geopolymer composites. Additive Manufacturing, 58, 103025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2022.103025
Reches, Y. (2019). Concrete on Mars: Options, challenges, and solutions for binder-based construction on the Red Planet. Cement and Concrete Composites, 104, 103349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.103349
Wan, L., Wendner, R., & Cusatis, G. (2016). A novel material for in situ construction on Mars: Experiments and numerical simulations. Construction and Building Materials, 120, 222–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.05.046
Snehal, K., Sinha, P., & Chaunsali, P. (2024). Development of waterless extra-terrestrial concrete using Martian regolith. Advances in Space Research, 73(1), 933–944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.036
Pajares, A., Kukurugya, F., Iantaffi, C., Vogelsang, D., Kus, M., Conti, M., & Michielsen, B. (2026). Additive manufacturing of Martian regolith simulant for carbon monoxide production: A first approach to in situ propellant generation on Mars. Journal of CO2 Utilization, 110, 103501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103501
Poggiali, G., Matsuoka, M., Barucci, M. A., et al. (2022). Phobos and Deimos surface composition: Search for spectroscopic analogues. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 516(1), 465–476. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac2226
Elkins-Tanton, L. T., Asphaug, E., Bell, J. F. III, et al. (2020). Observations, meteorites, and models: A preflight assessment of the composition and formation of (16) Psyche. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125(3), e2019JE006296. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JE006296
Cannon, K. M., Gialich, M., & Acain, J. (2023). Precious and structural metals on asteroids. Planetary and Space Science, 225, 105608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2022.105608
Hein, A. M., Matheson, R., & Fries, D. (2020). A techno-economic analysis of asteroid mining. Acta Astronautica, 168, 104–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.05.009
Sonter, M. J. (1997). The technical and economic feasibility of mining the near-Earth asteroids. Acta Astronautica, 41(4–10), 637–647. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-5765(98)00087-3
Elvis, M. (2014). How many ore-bearing asteroids? Planetary and Space Science, 91, 20–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2013.11.008
Zhang, W., Cheng, Q., & Li, J. (2023). Technical progress in the utilization and exploitation of small celestial body resources. Acta Astronautica, 208, 219–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.03.019
Srivastava, S., Pradhan, S. S., Luitel, B., Manghaipathy, P., & Romero, M. (2023). Analysis of technology, economic, and legislation readiness levels of asteroid mining industry: A base for the future space resource utilization missions. New Space, 11(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.1089/space.2021.0025
de Zwart, M., Henderson, S., & Neumann, M. (2023). Space resource activities and the evolution of international space law. Acta Astronautica, 211, 155–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.06.009
Kuramoto, K. (2024). Origin of Phobos and Deimos awaiting direct exploration. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 52, 495–519. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-040522-110615
Canup, R. M., & Salmon, J. (2018). Origin of Phobos and Deimos by the impact of a Vesta-to-Ceres sized body with Mars. Science Advances, 4(4), eaar6887. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar6887
Joswiak, D. J., Brownlee, D. E., Nguyen, A. N., & Messenger, S. (2017). Refractory materials in comet samples. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 52(8), 1612–1648. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12877
Publicado
Cómo citar
Número
Sección
Licencia
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.
El autor permite el uso y difusión de los artículos a los lectores y a la revista, por medio de la licencia Creative Commons CC-BY-4.0 (Reconocimiento 4.0). Esta licencia permite que cualquiera distribuya, remezcle, adapte y rediseñe a partir de un trabajo, incluso con fines lucrativos, siempre que se mencione la autoría de la creación original.
Ruta CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
