Miner: Difference between revisions
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{{upcoming}}
{{RoleInfobox
| image = Type 9 mining.jpg
| risk = Medium
| reward = High
| timeinvestment = Large
| suggestedships
| suggestedupgrades = [[Mining Laser]]; [[Refinery]]; [[Cargo Rack]]s; [[Limpet Controller/Collector|Collector
}}
'''Miners''' extract [[:Category:Metal commodities|metals]], [[:Category:Mineral commodities|minerals]], and other resources from [[asteroids]] and sell them for profit. Mining involves traveling to potential sites in space, usually pristine [[Planetary Rings]], identifying specific resource-rich asteroids, and using various specialized [[Hardpoint]] [[module]]s to remove and collect their resources.
In order to begin mining, pilots require three essential optional internal modules: a [[Refinery]] to refine collected resources into [[Commodities]] for sale, one or more [[Cargo Rack]]s to carry the refined Commodities, and one or more [[Mining Laser]]s, [[Abrasion Blaster]]s, [[Sub-surface Displacement Missile]]s, or [[Seismic Charge Launcher]]s. The [[Detailed Surface Scanner]], [[Limpet Controller/Prospector|Prospector Limpet]], and [[Pulse Wave Analyser]] can also be equipped to more easily locate ideal mining sites and valuable asteroids, and the [[Limpet Controller/Collector|Collector Limpet]] can be used to more efficiently gather raw resources. Miners who choose to delve inhabited systems rather than uncharted ones can purchase system data from [[Universal Cartographics]] or scan a [[System Signal Sources|Navigation Beacon]] in order to determine the quality of a system's asteroid clusters or planetary rings.
Some miners prefer small, nimble ships for mining, as they are better at maneuvering around asteroids, in tight asteroid belts and rings at higher velocities. However others prefer larger ships such as the [[Python]], [[Imperial Clipper]], [[Federal Corvette]], [[Imperial Cutter]] and the [[Anaconda]], which are not as maneuverable, but can equip all the beneficial [[Limpet Controller]]s and carry a large number of limpets for their use, while still having room for cargo and shields, increasing efficiency. Additionally, the larger ships are better at defending themselves from [[pirate]]s while mining, though such threats can generally be avoided in the uncharted systems beyond human habitation centers.
==Ships==
* A great choice for new miners is the [[Cobra MkIII]], due to the size of its cargo hold, internal compartments, and its maneuverability. It can also fit the Class 2 mining laser.
* The [[Adder]] is also the earliest ship capable of efficient mining as it can equip three mining lasers and has decent capacity but won't be able to defend itself.
* The [[Keelback]] can equip multiple lasers and has a half-decent capacity, and can use a fighter hanger for self-defense.
* The [[Python]] can equip a wide variety of modules with room to spare for cargo, making it an ideal medium ship for mining.
* The [[Type-9 Heavy]] is fantastic for the role; the bottom medium hardpoint rarely sees use in combat so is generally fine to swap for a class 2 mining laser. Meanwhile, it can have tons of space or have massive amounts of collector limpets at once; and can even do a fantastic job defending itself with the two top mounted turret hardpoints and a fighter bay. Beware that its large size means it is virtually impossible to gather ore manually so if you don't have any limpets left, you will be forced to abandon any remaining fragments.
== Equipment ==
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** Multiple lasers may also be equipped but will draw more power in total, and will also mean you have fewer hardpoints to defend yourself as they are incredibly inefficient at dealing damage and have the lowest range in the game.
** The [[Mining Lance]] offers far greater range and is capable of dealing 8 DPS, instead of 2, only slightly less than the 1E Beam Laser. The downsides are the higher power draw and the huge amount of thermal load generated.
* [[Refinery]]
** Required to process the collected ore.
** Better refineries have up to ten bins to process several types of ore simultaneously.
* [[Collector Drone|Collector Limpet]]
** Automated collection massively improves profit per hour by collecting fragments automatically.
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** Limpets need to be individually purchased at munition store (in the advanced maintenance tab) for 101 credit each limpet and will occupy your cargo rack (1T for each limpet).
** The number of collector limpet modules on each ship is not limited to one, and installing more than one limpet module increases the max number of active limpet at a time, thus increasing collection efficiency. If you have space to install 2 class 5 collector limpet modules, for instance, you may have 6 collector limpets active simultaneously.
* [[Limpet Controller/Prospector|Prospector Limpet]]
** Prospecting allows miners to view the mineral content of an asteroid even from a distance.
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** Generally, any size will do, even class 2 or 3. You won't need more than 2 or so active at once.
** In the new Analysis Mode, if a Commander fires a Prospecting Limpet at an asteroid, you will be able to see the highlighted location of all the deposits on it, making it easy for you to target and exploit those specific areas.
* [[Detailed Surface Scanner]]
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* [[Abrasion Blaster]]
** A new hardpoint module with which Commanders can shoot at
* [[Sub-surface Displacement Missile]]
** This new [[hardpoint]] [[module]] is used for harvesting
* [[Seismic Charge
** Certain asteroids, as identified by the
** The cockpit interface will give you an idea of how much destructive power the charges will hold, and Commanders will have to be careful to not go too far above or below that threshold, at the risk of losing valuable materials.<ref name=":0" />
** A countdown for all the charges will display on screen, so Commanders are limited on the amount of time they have to set up the perfect controlled explosion.<ref name=":0" />
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This information can be found in the system map by targeting either the belt cluster or planet of interest. Planetary rings are labeled from inner to outer with descending letters starting from A.
Locations of planets with pristine metallic rings can be found [[List of Pristine
==Guide to Mining==
[[File:Mining-duo.jpg|thumb|250px|Mining duo]]
Mining involves five processes:
# Probing
# Fragmenting
# Collecting
# Refining
# Selling
It is important to note that the first four processes can overlap during a mining session, and must be carefully managed in order to maximize efficiency and profit.
=== Probing ===
[[File:Python-Mining-Asteroid-Explosion.png|thumb|250px|Python mining asteroid explosion]]
[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Asteroid-Probe.png|thumb|250px|Asteroid probe]]
''[[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]]'' Chapter Four will introduce new aspects to mining: using new tools and exploration mechanics, miners can investigate rings to locate the best spots to start their mining sessions, and then the best specific asteroids to probe and excavate for rewards. With the right amount of skill and expertise, the new Abrasion blaster, Sub-surface displacement missile, and Seismic charge launcher, will provide some exciting and explosive results.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/451045-Beyond-Chapter-Four-Beta-Announcement Beyond - Chapter Four - Beta Announcement]</ref>
===Fragmenting===
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Select the fragment of rock as a target. They are quite small and hard to detect visually but do show up as white contacts on your radar. When selected, you get details of the contents of the fragment, e.g. Bauxite (9.7%) Coltan (21.2%). Note that the mineral name which shows up first in the HUD doesn't necessarily represent the most valuable mineral! The mineral content is how much of a ton of cargo can be extracted from the fragment. E.g. if you scoop and process three 35% Indite shards you end up with 1 ton of Indite. Fragments range in mineral content from ~5% to ~65%. Asteroids contain 1 to 3 different minerals while fragments from the asteroids contain up to 2 of those minerals.
===Collecting===
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You also have the option to "vent" the contents of your refinery. This is useful if you have a nearly-full refinery of bauxite and you find an asteroid with gold (or whatever else you prioritize). When no bin is available, minerals will not leave the depositing bin and will block it from accepting new fragments. When this happens you must either vent a refinery bin to free up space or vent the mineral from the depositing bin. NOTE: Doing this will destroy the mineral and you will not be able to recover it.
===Selling===
The value of a mineral is scaled to the supply/demand meaning that selling minerals where there are many other players selling the same mineral will result in a smaller profit per ton as demand for that item is low with so many suppliers. Systems that are both refinery economies and have an asteroid field will tend to give you a lower price compared to what you would get if you were to travel somewhere more distant to the source (source being asteroid fields). Also, checking the bulletin board is very important, since mining mission rewards can reach hundreds of thousands of credits. The most sought-after minerals in missions are painite, osmium and platinum.
Accepting Mining contracts at the Mission Board yields much more money for the mined commodities.
[[Styx]] is an excellent example of where we see a massive drop in prices. It has both mining equipment for sale, is very close to the spawn point for new players, has mineable asteroid fields and is a refinery economy (means it will have a constant demand for minerals to refine), it is therefore going to be very popular to sell minerals there which is going to lead to a price drop due to a saturated market.
Keep in mind that carrying valuable resources around attracts pirates and other players may also try to rob you. With mining lasers attached you will be less effective at defending yourself so don't lug rare metals around too long.
== Resource Availability and Values ==
=== Commodities ===
This is a rough table on which minerals, metals, and chemicals are most valuable to mine. These prices will be lower or higher depending on demand in the station you're selling to. It can be helpful to screenshot the nearest station's metal, mineral and chemical market prices to ensure highest profit, since varying demand of different resources can result in great variation of profit.
{| class="article-table"
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|Icy
|}
=== Materials ===
This is a rough guide to which materials are
{| class="article-table"
|+
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|'''Class I'''
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== Pirates and other miners ==
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* If your ship has the option a [[Fighter Hanger]] can be a good option for defense since most of your hardpoints will be being used on mining lasers. Simply deploy a fighter as soon as you arrive and use it or order a crewmember to defend yourself. This could make the [[Keelback]] a decent early option, but its low cargo space with a fighter bay may prove an issue.
It's kind of a dirty trick, but if you see other NPC miners out there zapping away, it's usually worth it to mine the rock they're currently working on. They seem surprisingly good-natured about you grabbing their spot, even. Be careful not to accidentally shoot or crash into them however as you may provoke them; or gain a bounty.
==Notes==
*Mining features were first added in the Beta 3 Update for ''[[Elite Dangerous]]'', which was released on October 28, 2014.
*Mining was greatly expanded with new features and modules by ''[[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]]'' Chapter Four (3.3), which was released on December 11, 2018.
* Asteroid fragments will display on the ship's radar as grey boxes.
* Use the System Map to find systems with asteroid belts or rings that have the description "Pristine Reserves" and "Metallic".
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* Keep an eye on the fragments; in some cases, they will get themselves stuck inside the meteorites. This will make it so your collector limpets will launch themselves into the rock; destroying themselves. If you notice a drone die early quickly look out for this and add it to your exclusion list as soon as possible to avoid more limpet loses.
* You can craft additional limpets via [[synthesis]] and you are very likely to pick up the components for them while mining; however they are incredibly wasteful of [[Nickel]], which is a common engineering material. Use this only in a pinch such as seeing rare materials with no drones.
* If you are only mining for access to [[Selene Jean
==Videos==
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File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Another_way_to_look_at_it
File:Elite_Dangerous_Deep_core_mining_in_an_Anaconda
File:Tutorial_Mining_Made_Easy(er)
File:New_Mining_Overview_Elite_Beyond_3.3
</gallery>
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Python-Mining-Asteroid-Explosion.png|Python mining asteroid explosion
File:Elite-Dangerous-Asteroid-Probe.png|Asteroid Probe
</gallery>
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Tutorial]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Commerce]]
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