Is it possible to make high-compressive-strength cement on Mars?

I was having fun reading this article about making cement on the moon when I asked myself (and now you), is it possible to make a suitably high-compressive-strength cement on Mars?

• Since concrete is simply cement with rocks in... I'm only asking about cement.

• I'm assuming absolutely nothing other than the recipie can be brought with astronauts (piles of dirt and a bazzillion gallons of water being a bit heavy to lift off the Earth).

• The construction site is on the equator.

• The best answer will explain how locally home-grown cement can be made at the equator without laying thousands of miles of pipe (or any other impractical solution) from the poles to the construction site.

• "Can it be done?" obviously depends on accessibility of materials. However, it's not posible (OK, it's not practical...) to bring an entire construction company to Mars. There are machinery limitaitons. Ignoring all the logistics: you have one mini-excavator, one bobcat earth mover, some kind of big spinning tub to mix the cement, drilling equipment suitable for tunnel work, and a reasonable amount of handheld machinery. All suitably modified to work on Mars. I don't want to worry about the specifics on this point (don't quibble about fuel, etc.), it's not the focus of the question. Assume the equipment works, but you don't have the ability to bring anything and everything you might want.

• Other than I'm ignoring our actual lack of present ability to get a ship to Mars — assume current technology.

• And just to keep the minimalist answers at bay, I'm asking for hard science. Are all the materials accessible and can they be be successfully assembled?

posted almost 6 years ago

JBH‭

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