How to make metals from Martian dirt
27 August 2025 3 min read Key points Swinburne and CSIRO researchers are investigating ways to produce native metals using materials found on Mars. Martian settlements will require large amounts of metal that are difficult to ship from Earth. The team have successfully produced iron using regolith simulant that mimics what is available on the Red Planet. The idea of building settlements on Mars is a popular goal of billionaires, space agencies and interplanetary enthusiasts. But constructio