Meridiani Planum is a region on Mars which gives one a glimpse into the inner workings of an interstellar mining civilization.

The upper 25% of the area is the Quarry, a mining operation which appears to have a shape similar to the Boot of Italy (A).

There are at least seven large machines in various states of action present here. I have given names to the machines based on my first impression at time of discovery. These names are based on my life experiences, objects observed, and European background which might not reflect the image as you see it.  All images are enlargements of actual NASA photographs taken by the HiRISE orbiter from 171 miles above Mars.

This is the best resolution I could achieve with the images and equipment on hand.

To the left is the BBsM Imprint (B) made by a machine I named the Bugs Bunny Martian sans Mohawk (BBMsM)(C) now standing upright ‘looking down’ at the Imprint, and it appears to have a wire attached to a hook on its ‘head’ which is attached to the arm of the Crane (D), simply named for the function it appears to perform.

Six o’clock from the Crane is another ‘imprint’. This is the ‘bite’ mark (E)of the Spike Helmet Ore Processor.(F)

The Spike Helmet has a ‘visor/bite’ mechanism in front, a series of sections that appear to ‘bite down’ on a mountain. There is an arch and a platform with figures? in the ‘mouth’ area.

In the ‘ear’ area, there is an armature which could provide locomotion and/or anchor the machine when it works.

There is a ’spike’ on top of the machine which fits perfectly in the bite mark directly below the BBMsM machine. There are also many other spike marks in various stages of camouflage.

To the left of ‘ear area’ is a series of objects, a tripod with ball, platforms, scaffolding. Perhaps a repair job?

Looking from the Spike Helmet to 1 o’clock is the Stomach (G), an ore processor with a vacuum/suction apparatus ‘mouth’ that draws in the raw material, processes it, and discharges the effluvium out the ‘rear’.

This is apparent in the enlargement.

To the right of the Stomach, at 3 o’clock, is another machine I named the Choo Choo Borer (H) simply because it looks like a locomotive and it is boring into the rock. This also has processed ore emitting from the rear.

Looking in a southerly direction from the Choo Choo Borer, along the ‘west coast’ of ‘Italian boot’, we encounter the Arm/Hammer Helmet (I) apparently engaged in breaking up rock strata. This is evident in the apparent motion of the ‘Arm” where we can see the diffusion of the image in area of oscillation and where hammer meets rock face.

Looking down and to the left of the Arm/Hammer Helmet, there is a large complex of piping and structural angles (J). This could be a processing plant or control area.

There are many more smaller support machines and structures in this area so look around carefully.

This is a working mining operation and the image was acquired Dec. 12, 2007.