In addition to the specific uses listed below, most resources can be bought and sold through the Trade Controls screen. However, not all resources can be bought and/or sold in all missions. The machines that gather and use the various resources are described in the main reference page, and the amount of each resource remaining on the planet is shown in the Planetary Scan section of the Bridge Screen.
Argon gas vents can be found in the pools of black crater water on certain worlds. Look for escaping bubbles and then place an argon gas rig on the spot to capture and process the argon. Argon is needed to prime lasers and other military systems.
This essential resource can be purchased through the Trade Controls screen or manufactured by using a nutrient extractor to process hydromorphus or GM bamboo. Base nutrients provide your colonists with food and drink (through mess halls, bars or luxury bars). Surplus base nutrients can also be sold for credits.
While not exactly a resource, advanced electronics are something you can produce and sell for credit or use to construct various types of robots. Start with refined silicon (which you can mine using a silicon extractor or buy through Trade Controls). Then use an electronics fabricator to further process the silicon into electronics units.
This rare mineral has a variety of uses and is one of the most valuable commodities in the game. Use a scavenger bunker to collect and process iridium crystals. Processed iridium can then be sold or used as power cores for iridium power plants and androids.
One of the mineral resources found throughout the galaxy. Use an iron extractor to mine and process the ore. Then sell it through the Trade Controls screen or use it to build replacement robots in an industrial robotics factory.
This resource is used in conjunction with medi bays to cure disease. It can be purchased through the Trade Controls screen or manufactured by using a pharmaceutical extractor to process cylincsus. When pharmaceuticals are available, your warehouse droids will automatically deliver them to medi bays as needed. Surplus pharmaceuticals can also be sold for credits.
If you like green base nutrient soup, you'll love processed space chicken! It may not be actual poultry, but it sure tastes like chicken! This delicious, nutritious resource begins with a chicken farmer unit. Place one outside your base, assign a trained operative and let the butchering begin. Droids will carry the processed chicken to your restaurants and warehouses, so your colonists (and tourists) can enjoy a good meal or sell surplus chicken for profit.
A scavenger bunker can be used to collect protoraptor pods before they hatch into adult protoraptors. Sometimes collecting raptor pods is a mission goal. Otherwise they can be sold through the Trade Controls screen.
Wherever this resource is found, it's usually in large quantities. Silicon extractors mine and process raw silicon, which can either be sold as-is or further processed into advanced electronics, one of the components used to make androids, industrial and military robots.
One of the mineral resources found throughout the galaxy. Use a titanium extractor to mine and process the ore. Then sell it through the Trade Controls screen or use it to build replacement robots in a military robotics factory.
While not technically a resource, volcanic vents enable you to tap the geothermal energy produced by volcanoes to power your base. Locate a vent (it looks like a small volcano that occasionally releases a cloud of hot gas) and place a lava power plant over it.