Resource extracting in Surviving Mars Surviving Mars Guide & Walkthrough
Last update: 21 March 2018
In this chapter, you will learn how to effectively extract and process resources and what are the consequences of extraction. Furthermore, you will find tips on farms, crops, and resources that are out of your range.
Resource management
In the game, you can look up your level of resources. You can do that by pressing "O" or the colony condition icon. After you roll your mouse over resources, you will be able to acquaint yourself with information on resources - production of resources, consumption, amount of collected resources. Unfortunately, there is no way to look up quickly where the highest consumption occurs - you receive here only the general information. Use this option often.
There is a quick way to control your consumption of resources. Though, monitor the level of resources in your warehouses and build storages dedicated to specific resources, rather than universal ones. Thanks to this, you will be able to access quick information on your current supply.
Extracting resources from the surface
You will often find metals or polymers on the surface of Mars (rocks). You can collect them with your RC Transporter. If there are more resources than your transporter can carry, set a fixed route resource-depot. This way, your transporter will transport resources till you deplete them. Note that the truck cannot go and recharge automatically. You have to monitor the level of energy. Concrete, which is extracted from regolith deposits, can also be found on the surface. However, you can only extract it with concrete extractors.
Extracting underground deposits
Underground resources that you can extract on Mars are water, metals and rare metals. Water can be obtained with water extractors and they work by themselves - no colonists required.
Metals and rare metals can be extracted with the use of metals extractors and rare metals extractors. However, your colonists will have to operate them - buildings need to be within the dome reach. Assign your Geologists.
Rock waste
Rock waste is generated by any extractor or mine. Every extractor has its own resource depot and dumping site. If you run out of free space, buildings will stop working. Thus, make sure to save some space for depots and dumping sites. Later on in the game, researching one of the technologies will let your drones generate concrete from waste.
