[Distant Worlds] Prospecting Central

[Flavourless]

I'll try mining somewhere else when I get the chance.
My usual place has a wide variety of minerals (including the two new ones) and material contents (ie low, medium, high) - just no interesting mats.

 

[ilo]

I'll try mining somewhere else when I get the chance.
My usual place has a wide variety of minerals (including the two new ones) and material contents (ie low, medium, high) - just no interesting mats.

aha, thanks for confirming me the high exist! any considerable difference in material drops between the high and the others?

 

[Maxmilian Czhilli]

I've done a fair bit of planetary prospecting and have sources for any material I need. But I have only been surveying for material presence and not noting how often I find each material.

One thing I have noticed is that 3-2-1 rule doesn't give you a particularly good idea of how often you will find that material. On my main Jumpomium mat planet I seem to find much more Zinc than Arsenic.

Now this might be explained by how in the new grade system Zinc has 2 leaves and Arsenic 3 leaves. But I'm not sure that the distribution of materials is that easily understood. Both Ruthenium and Polonium are grade 5 in the new system. On my Ruthenium planet I seemed to be tripping over the stuff but Polonium is still as rare as hen's teeth.

Now I don't have hard stats to back me up on this so my impressions may be wrong. I was wondering what the experience of other prospectors has been. Have the scientists got to the bottom of how the distribution of materials on planets? Is it consistent or does it vary by planet.

As a side note. On my Polonium bearing planet I have much more success in finding metallic meteorites and hence Polonium at higher altitudes than on the low plains. Is this a common finding or just my brain tricking me?

 

[Anuranium]

To all prospectors pre 2.1

It seems that the endless quest for Polonium while being obstructed by Tea is still going on...

Spoiler

[/IMG]

At least we can use the tea for something useful now

 

[CDR Michael Darkmoor]

Don't know if this is discussed here?
The VC ,C ,R ,VR concept is obsolete as there are now 5 classes of element with 5 in each class?

So Y is only class 4, and As/Zr are class 3 for example.

.
Flavorless - The 3-2-1 Rule is actually still in effect, but it uses the old four-level system of materials. The 4-level system had the VR as Y, Po, Te, Tc, Sb & Ru. So if you find Y... that's the highest material you will find on that particular planet. It boils down to 6 (aside from the Very Common) materials that make up each planet... and from some reports so far, each ring system as well (for those of us who like shooting larger rocks!! ). This still needs to be confirmed and we are working on a method to catalog these rings as part of the Prospecting Data Base... but we need to nail it down.
.
(Ilo's material -> 7 flavors of NON VC in a Ring! => germanium, carbon, molybdenum, arsenic, cadmium, sulphur, zinc, tin, nickel, iron, phosphorus, chromium.... and no VR... INTERESTING!!! )
.
Speaking of which... if anyone WANTS to check out rings and determine the materials only... someone mentioned NOT having a refinery... BUT THERE IS A BETTER WAY. Yep.... Just turn the darn thing OFF (That way you can continue mining later if you like ).
.
.

It seems that the endless quest for Polonium while being obstructed by Tea is still going on...

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/YER1mP8.jpg

At least we can use the tea for something useful now

.
.
It goes deeper than that, me thinks! This almost has the "aire of the divine" about it ...
<conspiracy... anyone?>
.
.
.

Got it!

https://discordapp.com/invite/0hKG2qb9ODixa7Iz

We're in #prospectors

PS - Join any time. The conversation is usually quite entertaining

.
.
Might be a good addition to the front matter (so we don't lose it again )

 

[jimbeau1571]

Newbie to SRV Prospecting

I never really used the SRV for smashing rock before the Engineers drop, and found the sudden need for Arsenic. So the research began.

Having read this thread, I started my own spreadsheet (more for my own understanding of what I was doing) and have been prospecting on various bodies. With some good luck too.
But it has raised a few questions I'm hoping can maybe answered or best guestimated.

1. 3-2-1 Rule - Now we have 4 sets after the VC set (C, E, R, VR) are we now to expect 1VR, 2R and any 3 from E & C?

2. The new sets - some elements have moved sets eg: Arsenic, only my R set only has 3 elements in it so far. Do we know the full and new set configuration of the elements?

3. The scanner - I used the wavescanner guide and the one in this thread and have got to grips with it. But I really struggling to find the Metallic Outcrop and Meteorite, are they as rare as I am finding or am I missing something?

Luckily though, I have managed to identify a good source of Arsenic near my home system, with Tellerium and Cadmium. So I'm getting there!

Regards in advance

 

[CDR Michael Darkmoor]

I never really used the SRV for smashing rock before the Engineers drop, and found the sudden need for Arsenic. So the research began.

Having read this thread, I started my own spreadsheet (more for my own understanding of what I was doing) and have been prospecting on various bodies. With some good luck too.
But it has raised a few questions I'm hoping can maybe answered or best guestimated.

1. 3-2-1 Rule - Now we have 4 sets after the VC set (C, E, R, VR) are we now to expect 1VR, 2R and any 3 from E & C?

2. The new sets - some elements have moved sets eg: Arsenic, only my R set only has 3 elements in it so far. Do we know the full and new set configuration of the elements?

3. The scanner - I used the wavescanner guide and the one in this thread and have got to grips with it. But I really struggling to find the Metallic Outcrop and Meteorite, are they as rare as I am finding or am I missing something?

Luckily though, I have managed to identify a good source of Arsenic near my home system, with Tellerium and Cadmium. So I'm getting there!

Regards in advance

...
.
.
Here are the current and older versions:
The 2.1 layout of materials (The 5 by 5):
.
Grade 1 = C, Fe, Ni, P, S
Grade 2 = Cr, Ge, Mn, V, Zn
Grade 3 = As, Nb, Se, W, Zr
Grade 4 = Cd, Hg, Mo, Sn, Y
Grade 5 = Ru, Po, Sb, Te, Tc
...
.
Previous (4-level)
Very Common - - Grade 1 = C, Fe, Ni, P, S
Common - -- - -- Grade 2 = Cr, Ge, Mn, V, Zn (+ As, Se, and Zr) - - - - (3)
Rare -- -- -- -- -- Grade 3 = Cd, Hg, Nb, Mo, Sn, W - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
Very Rare -- -- -- Grade 4 = Ru, Po, Sb, Te, Tc, Y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
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Using the old (4-level) version... every planet will still be 3-2-1... This has not changed... it just LOOKS different when applied to the 5-level mats new matrix.
The simple form is to just think of that LAST Line in the 4-level version... ONLY 1 OF THESE SHOULD EVER SHOW UP (*)
That leaves 5 other materials to find... and they have so far followed the old 4-level, 3-2-1 rule.
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Six (6) of the less common Mats to find in total.
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*(we have some verifications to do on the one or two planets where someone has said they've found more then one VR, but we are fairly confident and expect these to follow suit with the rest of the galaxy once we get out to them and give them a thorough going over )
.
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MM's and OC2's (Metallic Outcrops) are indeed sometimes hard to find... but perhaps ... easier if you listen to the signals instead of looking for them, as the sounds they make start to appear well before you can resolve them on the scanner.

 

[drkaii]

Hi guys, does anybody want to write a Rock Rats report on the changes to mats since the update? The print-off newsletter is being prepped and you have 5 days.

If you are still investigating nvm

 

[jimbeau1571]

...
.
.
Here are the current and older versions:
The 2.1 layout of materials (The 5 by 5):
.
Grade 1 = C, Fe, Ni, P, S
Grade 2 = Cr, Ge, Mn, V, Zn
Grade 3 = As, Nb, Se, W, Zr
Grade 4 = Cd, Hg, Mo, Sn, Y
Grade 5 = Ru, Po, Sb, Te, Tc
...
.
Previous (4-level)
Very Common - - Grade 1 = C, Fe, Ni, P, S
Common - -- - -- Grade 2 = Cr, Ge, Mn, V, Zn (+ As, Se, and Zr) - - - - (3)
Rare -- -- -- -- -- Grade 3 = Cd, Hg, Nb, Mo, Sn, W - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2)
Very Rare -- -- -- Grade 4 = Ru, Po, Sb, Te, Tc, Y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1)
.
Using the old (4-level) version... every planet will still be 3-2-1... This has not changed... it just LOOKS different when applied to the 5-level mats new matrix.
The simple form is to just think of that LAST Line in the 4-level version... ONLY 1 OF THESE SHOULD EVER SHOW UP (*)
That leaves 5 other materials to find... and they have so far followed the old 4-level, 3-2-1 rule.
.
Six (6) of the less common Mats to find in total.
.
*(we have some verifications to do on the one or two planets where someone has said they've found more then one VR, but we are fairly confident and expect these to follow suit with the rest of the galaxy once we get out to them and give them a thorough going over )
.
.
MM's and OC2's (Metallic Outcrops) are indeed sometimes hard to find... but perhaps ... easier if you listen to the signals instead of looking for them, as the sounds they make start to appear well before you can resolve them on the scanner.

Thanks for the reply.
With regards to the MM's and OC2's (you see, I'm learning the lingo too ) I soon learnt to listen for the sounds way before the scanner picked them up. Be nice if you could turn off the gieger sound and leave you with the 'scraping' sound only. I was just finding it hard to find those, not just identify them. but it looks like they are as rare as i thought they must be, and not me just being ... well rubbish lol

 

[vitriol]

Thanks for the hard work.

You guys have made this game playable. Frontier should take notes.

 

[V'larr]

Hi there!

I need help finding Arsenic nearby Khun, and I've tracked down this thread as the most sensible place to ask.

I haven't played much Horizons content up til now, so I don't have a stockpile of minerals already to go on.

I've spent a couple days now scouring the 'net for information about where/how to find Arsenic, whilst also dodging aggro-bugged Elite NPCs randomly attacking me, while I flit about looking for planets similar to that Shinrarta Dezra planet I've seen commonly quoted as having Arsenic.

Vacuuming these planets in my SRV all day and night has produced no Arsenic, and I'm at wit's end.

Barring Frontier doing something to make things easier, I have 3 questions:
- Are there any known locations nearby Khun (say, within 100ly) that has Arsenic for sure on the planet's surface?
- How would I go about maximizing my chances of finding Arsenic in the first place? I've tried only searching for Mesosiderites, Chondrites & Meteorites, and while I've gotten a few rare bits and pieces out of that, I haven't found any Arsenic.
- Am I likely better off just re-kitting my ship with some mining lasers & collector limpets & parking at a rocky asteroid belt for a short while? (Or put differently, is finding materials faster that way?)

 

[ilo]

Hi there!

I need help finding Arsenic nearby Khun, and I've tracked down this thread as the most sensible place to ask.

I haven't played much Horizons content up til now, so I don't have a stockpile of minerals already to go on.

I've spent a couple days now scouring the 'net for information about where/how to find Arsenic, whilst also dodging aggro-bugged Elite NPCs randomly attacking me, while I flit about looking for planets similar to that Shinrarta Dezra planet I've seen commonly quoted as having Arsenic.

Vacuuming these planets in my SRV all day and night has produced no Arsenic, and I'm at wit's end.

Barring Frontier doing something to make things easier, I have 3 questions:
- Are there any known locations nearby Khun (say, within 100ly) that has Arsenic for sure on the planet's surface?
- How would I go about maximizing my chances of finding Arsenic in the first place? I've tried only searching for Mesosiderites, Chondrites & Meteorites, and while I've gotten a few rare bits and pieces out of that, I haven't found any Arsenic.
- Am I likely better off just re-kitting my ship with some mining lasers & collector limpets & parking at a rocky asteroid belt for a short while? (Or put differently, is finding materials faster that way?)

read this:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=206422&p=3306228&viewfull=1#post3306228
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=251712&p=3906630&viewfull=1#post3906630

ADD: strongly disagree with making things easier, specially when it is not difficult, just tedious.

 

[dognosh]

Hi there!

I need help finding Arsenic nearby Khun, and I've tracked down this thread as the most sensible place to ask.

I haven't played much Horizons content up til now, so I don't have a stockpile of minerals already to go on.

I've spent a couple days now scouring the 'net for information about where/how to find Arsenic, whilst also dodging aggro-bugged Elite NPCs randomly attacking me, while I flit about looking for planets similar to that Shinrarta Dezra planet I've seen commonly quoted as having Arsenic.

Vacuuming these planets in my SRV all day and night has produced no Arsenic, and I'm at wit's end.

Barring Frontier doing something to make things easier, I have 3 questions:
1- Are there any known locations nearby Khun (say, within 100ly) that has Arsenic for sure on the planet's surface?
2- How would I go about maximizing my chances of finding Arsenic in the first place? I've tried only searching for Mesosiderites, Chondrites & Meteorites, and while I've gotten a few rare bits and pieces out of that, I haven't found any Arsenic.
3- Am I likely better off just re-kitting my ship with some mining lasers & collector limpets & parking at a rocky asteroid belt for a short while? (Or put differently, is finding materials faster that way?)

1- unless someone knows specifically I suggest you look here(make sure you go to the "Log" tab) --->>> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LgMaX9n6Yp8DQKq-u-eF1HH2xQ-_aUgSfSJna6mTuLs/htmlview#
2- If it is on the planet, then it should show in most types, if not all as it is common(supposedly)
3- not tried that

 

[istigkeit]

- How would I go about maximizing my chances of finding Arsenic in the first place? I've tried only searching for Mesosiderites, Chondrites & Meteorites, and while I've gotten a few rare bits and pieces out of that, I haven't found any Arsenic.

I have found bronzite chondrite to give very common materials the vast majority of the time. You will get more than enough of those anyhow from mesosiderites and metallic meteorites. I rarely scan chondrite these days. There are so many it seems to waste time. The only exception would be if I were specifically looking for basic refuel/repair materials for my SRV.

 

[V'larr]

ADD: strongly disagree with making things easier, specially when it is not difficult, just tedious.

Not difficult? Buddy, there's no ingame information on how to acquire it, aside from the very broad hint of "available on planets" - that makes it fairly difficult. Do you realize just how many landable planets there are currently within 100 ly of Khun, let alone the entire the human bubble? It's a LOT.

Even all the information people have gathered since Horizons has come out, seems to result in "go to Deciat 4" or "Shinarta Dezhra 1", otherwise "good luck!". There's *some* methods to the madness of SRV-wave scanning, but it does little to change the 'drop rate' (for lack of a better term).

As for being tedious, I see no reason for a thing to be tedious if it needn't be. If people were happy with tediousness, we'd still be in the stone age.

__

Disregarding all that, thanks for the attempts to help out! I'll see if Timbalderis is nearby Khun once I finish upgrading with today's patch (edit: and I'll also browse that Log tab in that google-doc, thanks dognosh), otherwise looks like I may be on my own, though I'll still check back to see if there's any news.

 

[V'larr]

In addendum: sifting through that googledoc produced 2 results for places "near" Khun:
- Marojini A 4 (~86ly away)
- Carnsan 1 & 2 (~105ly away)

I've marked out the first 4 planets in Col 285 Sector KS-T D3-88 to check out next-door to Khun; if I lose patience with trying systems in the immediate vicinity of Khun, I will try those two next.

 

[ilo]

Not difficult? Buddy, there's no ingame information on how to acquire it, aside from the very broad hint of "available on planets" - that makes it fairly difficult. Do you realize just how many landable planets there are currently within 100 ly of Khun, let alone the entire the human bubble? It's a LOT.

Even all the information people have gathered since Horizons has come out, seems to result in "go to Deciat 4" or "Shinarta Dezhra 1", otherwise "good luck!". There's *some* methods to the madness of SRV-wave scanning, but it does little to change the 'drop rate' (for lack of a better term).

As for being tedious, I see no reason for a thing to be tedious if it needn't be. If people were happy with tediousness, we'd still be in the stone age.

__

Disregarding all that, thanks for the attempts to help out! I'll see if Timbalderis is nearby Khun once I finish upgrading with today's patch (edit: and I'll also browse that Log tab in that google-doc, thanks dognosh), otherwise looks like I may be on my own, though I'll still check back to see if there's any news.

I think this is not the place to discuss if material finding is easy or not, but to write and discuss how to and where, not to discuss if you think is correct or not, but to try to describe the appearance factors.

If you get your srv and land on about 15 planets of different types and check the materials I'm sure you will get a list of locations where to find almost any one, without having to wait for someone to give this information to you.

bear in mind, please, that this is what we all did, or many if us did in preparation for synthesis and engineers. there is nothing wrong in that. the main reason why all answers point to founders world or deciat 4 is because people is keeping the good spots for themselfs. there is nothing wrong with that. you would do as well, but you you never cared looking for them.

 

[Olivia Vespera]

In addendum: sifting through that googledoc produced 2 results for places "near" Khun:
- Marojini A 4 (~86ly away)
- Carnsan 1 & 2 (~105ly away)

I've marked out the first 4 planets in Col 285 Sector KS-T D3-88 to check out next-door to Khun; if I lose patience with trying systems in the immediate vicinity of Khun, I will try those two next.

Prospection is a process. go to a landable planet, record the 3-2-1, if you find arsenic, great. if not move on. I'm willing to bet that you'll certainly find arsenic on a landable in a 15ly radius from wherever you search.

 

[V'larr]

I think...<snip>

I think you're slightly ridiculous.
"can't talk about that here"
"well we all did it this way so everyone else should deal with too"
"people totes hide all the good stuff for themselves without telling anybody"
Really. *sighs* thanks for your time, moving on....

Prospection is a process. go to a landable planet, record the 3-2-1, if you find arsenic, great. if not move on. I'm willing to bet that you'll certainly find arsenic on a landable in a 15ly radius from wherever you search.

Yes, I learned about the 3-2-1 rule the other day...which took a full day of web/forum digging to find out what the rule actually is (for anybody reading who does not know: majority of planets tend to have 3 common, 2 rare, 1 ultrarare materials on its surface).

Still think it's too tedious. But there's plenty good suggestions floating around on the subject, in the proper area of the forums for that. So moving on:

__


Good news, I found my Arsenic, less than 10ly away from Khun as luck would have it. (Have a cookie, Olivia.)

After another full evening of SRV-vacuuming and strangely aggressive NPC pirates, this is the data I've collected on the materials one can find on the first 4 planets of Col 285 Sector KS-T D3-88, not counting the "very common" junk found on all planets - perhaps other folks will find it useful when in the Khun area for similar reasons:

planet A 4: Arsenic (!)(common), Vanadium (common), Molybdenum (rare), Ruthenium (very rare [? I've found far more of this than I have arsenic, whatever]), Noibium (element [as in, no rarity listed])

planet A 3: Vanadium (common) (lots of this here), Cadmium (rare), Selenium (element), Chromium (common) (lots of this here), Ruthenium (very rare) [I didn't stay to find the 'third' (common) material, as I nearly spent 2 full SRV tanks of fuel without finding a third (common) material, so I'm just assuming it's not there/I'm unlucky/some other reason I may not know about].

planet A 2: Vanadium (common), Niobium (element), Chromium (common), Zinc (common)

planet A 1 (binary with A 2): Manganese (common), Germanium (common), Cadmium (rare), Zinc (common), Tin (rare)


Hopefully, this may save others some precious time in the future.

 

[ilo]

that attitude [blah]

retract your hardpoints, please. first thing I did was giving you a location where to find the arsenic you where looking for, then I told you what do I think about whinging in this thread and why we might need to keep this one on topic. I also answered you about why people do not post their locations for materials, and suggest you to get a srv, drive a few planets and find your own sources. I really don't understand your attack but I kindly suggest you again to stop doing it here.