Newcomer / Intro Newbie Miner Questions

[RandomSanity]

Hi Guys,

First I want to ask, why is every thread locked and archived like two days after it's posted? I wouldn't have to make a new thread every time if I could just ask in one of the existing guide threads

Now on to mining: I am a newbie miner and I just outfitted my Cobra with basic gear. I found a pristine asteroid field to mine in and I'm mining gold, silver, and platinum. The most I seem to be able to get from one asteroid is 6 chunks of 9-20% ore. Is this normal?

Are you able to mine more or better resources with a better laser?

Is it possible to scan asteroids to see what they contain, or am I stuck randomly shooting them until they drop an ore?

My first run took me about two hours and I only made about 100k. This seems really bad to me, should I try mining a ring instead of a asteroid belt? Do the rings have more of the more rare minerals?

Lastly, which upgrades should I prioritize on my cobra?

Thanks again folks, I've found this community quite helpful despite what I've heard, even to whining noobs like myself.

 

[David frm Operations]

OKies, couple of questions in there so, here goes.

You can get from 6-10 total chunks from a rock, that is true, you need to get a few off, scoop them, then a few more. If you shoot the rock at it's center of rotation, the chunks tend to come off in a nice little line to scoop. Don't go nuts scooping or you will knock them all over like pool balls.

Better laser gives you chunks faster, and maybe bigger chunks, I haven't proven that part, but it does go a bit faster.

The best mining is in a metallic ring of a planet. The asteroid clusters are a major PAIN and a waste of time. Do be in a system with "pristine" reserves as it does help. I won't say they have more minerals, they have a LOT more rocks. You can drop in anywhere you want in the ring, if you use a resource site, move at least 30+ km away from it so the pirates will tend to leave you alone. If you just drop into a ring, then do it away from the sites, on the light side of the planet and I like from the outside of the ring going in.

No you can't yet scan to see what comes from a rock. I work from outside in on a ring, on the light side of a planet and shoot one rock, lock it to see what it is and decide from there. Don't like the rock, move on, there will be more.

Your profit was ok though you will get better and faster which will make you more money.

Upgrades depend on what you are doing. I always want a better power distribution, frame shift drive and better sensors. Going up to D class is cheap, saves mass and good improvements in each area. For mining, I would get the best refinery you can, it gets you more ore I do believe and with the most slots so you don't have to drop good stuff. Better thrusters will help you scoop a little easier, better laser is faster cutting, past that, meh.

 

[RandomSanity]

OKies, couple of questions in there so, here goes.

You can get from 6-10 total chunks from a rock, that is true, you need to get a few off, scoop them, then a few more. If you shoot the rock at it's center of rotation, the chunks tend to come off in a nice little line to scoop. Don't go nuts scooping or you will knock them all over like pool balls.

Better laser gives you chunks faster, and maybe bigger chunks, I haven't proven that part, but it does go a bit faster.

The best mining is in a metallic ring of a planet. The asteroid clusters are a major PAIN and a waste of time. Do be in a system with "pristine" reserves as it does help. I won't say they have more minerals, they have a LOT more rocks. You can drop in anywhere you want in the ring, if you use a resource site, move at least 30+ km away from it so the pirates will tend to leave you alone. If you just drop into a ring, then do it away from the sites, on the light side of the planet and I like from the outside of the ring going in.

No you can't yet scan to see what comes from a rock. I work from outside in on a ring, on the light side of a planet and shoot one rock, lock it to see what it is and decide from there. Don't like the rock, move on, there will be more.

Your profit was ok though you will get better and faster which will make you more money.

Upgrades depend on what you are doing. I always want a better power distribution, frame shift drive and better sensors. Going up to D class is cheap, saves mass and good improvements in each area. For mining, I would get the best refinery you can, it gets you more ore I do believe and with the most slots so you don't have to drop good stuff. Better thrusters will help you scoop a little easier, better laser is faster cutting, past that, meh.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I've found 7 Pristine Metallic belts, but haven't been able to find any pristine rings Maybe that is the big difference.

 

[Lodar]

OKies, couple of questions in there so, here goes.


Better laser gives you chunks faster, and maybe bigger chunks, I haven't proven that part, but it does go a bit faster.

The best mining is in a metallic ring of a planet. The asteroid clusters are a major PAIN and a waste of time. Do be in a system with "pristine" reserves as it does help. I won't say they have more minerals, they have a LOT more rocks. You can drop in anywhere you want in the ring, if you use a resource site, move at least 30+ km away from it so the pirates will tend to leave you alone. If you just drop into a ring, then do it away from the sites, on the light side of the planet and I like from the outside of the ring going in.

I've been doing ALL my mining in asteroid fields (metallic), it takes a long time but it's worked out pretty well.

1. Any idea where I can check to find out where I can buy an upgraded mining laser?

2. How do I identify a planet with a metallic ring and exactly how do I get to it? (Sorry if this is a silly question ... just got excited from your posting!)

Thanks for any help!

 

[RandomSanity]

I've been doing ALL my mining in asteroid fields (metallic), it takes a long time but it's worked out pretty well.

1. Any idea where I can check to find out where I can buy an upgraded mining laser?

2. How do I identify a planet with a metallic ring and exactly how do I get to it? (Sorry if this is a silly question ... just got excited from your posting!)

Thanks for any help!

I can answer your second question at least. You can either manually explore areas and find them yourself, you can buy map data in of surrounding areas in stations (this is done via the galaxy map while docked, not via the universial cartographics options) or you can just look up locations other players have found.

Regardless of how you get the exploration data, you have to scroll around the galaxy map and find locations which have a system view. You can then click around each system you have mapped and clicking on the planet will tell you it's reserve type and how much is left.

I've found a lot of mining lasers, but I highly doubt you're anywhere near me as I haven't seen a single player-controller commander since I got out here shortly after I started playing. They seem to be very common in high tech areas.

 

[David frm Operations]

If the system info says the belts are pristine, then you are good to go.

To find rings on planets, well, you got to look. Look at any system, look at the system view, click on the planets with rings. They will tell you the number and type of rings. For example, you may get a planet with 3 rings, and you scroll down on the planet info there will be sections for the rings and ring one may be icy, ring 2 may be rocky and ring 3 may be metallic. When you are out there close to them, you will see the difference in appearance as well. Any planet with metalic rings has stuff for you to mine and will keep you busy for all your days if you let it.

Bonus info, when you go to sell your riches, check the bulletin board first for missions that are seeking any of the metals you have. They are designed to give you a profit, sometimes a lot of profit, over purchasing the material in question. So, if you mined it, then they are even more profitable and a no work way to make some extra credits and reputation from mining.

 

[Lodar]

Very specific information David ..... Thank you!!!

I'm excited to find some rings now!

By the way, do you know if 2 level 1 mining lasers work the same as a single level 2 does? I can't seem to find a level 2 anywhere.