Meta Ridley can destroy these and/or break them in half during his fight with Samus when he attacks, but they will produce pick-up items for her use. Some may survive the encounter and remain standing or halved. It would seem that the Cancerous rock nubs in the Metroid Prime Lair below mirror the totems. In Metroid Prime Pinball, the totems are key to completing the Artifact Temple table. A limited supply of ornate boulders appear that must be knocked into holes in the totems to complete the table.