(6178) 1986 DA is an M-type, or nickel-iron asteroid.  It is a Mars-crosser, and as an Amor-class asteroid, it comes within 0.3 AU of Earth's orbital path approximately once every 4.7 years, making it a candidate for early exploitation of its mineral resources, first by Earth, and later by Mars.
 
1986 DA is home to an antiquated automated mining facility that is currently undergoing refit.