How to mine for Tritium? Need a noob friendly explanation.

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

OK, I have a Fleet Carrier. I‘m wondering how to mine for Tritium without spending all my time mining - an activity I don‘t really enjoy. Sure, I could buy Tritium, but if I ever decide to go out into the black, with a ship bigger than my exploration FDS, it might be useful to know how to get Tritium without having to fly back to the bubble.
The last time I mined, the only tools required where Mining Lasers and a refinery (oh and limpets, a lot of limpets and a controller). Now, there are new scanners, blasters, lasers, charges and missiles and probably things I don‘t know exist.

Anyway - how do I mine Tritium in the most time effective way? The goal is not to make a lot of money, but to be able to jump the FC after a short mining stop and then do other things most of the rest of the time I play.

Is using just the mining lasers viable? Or is the yield of Tritium too low with just surface mining lasers?
Is a combination of all the available tools the way to go or should I concentrate on one method?
What method - laser, blaster, charges and deep core missile thingies - is the best for getting Tritium?

I know the first step is to shoot at an icy ring with the surface scanner missile thingy. Over lapping Tritium hotspots are the way to go.
But then?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Troa Barton]

You're going to be looking for an icy ring to start while you're out in the black.
Once that is done you will need:
At least a Krait MK II or Python, Conda makes a good mining ship as does the Cutter. Importantly at least 5 hardpoints and plenty of internals.
A Detailed Surface Scanner to see the makeup of the rings and to locate the hotspots.
A Pulse Wave Analyzer (utility) to find the best rocks to mine from. Go for the glowy rocks, the more orange and ugly the better.
A Prospector Limpet Controller to see what's in the rock.
Preferably 2, 5A Collector Limpet Controllers.
An A class Refinery.
Cargo space.
A Shield, optional but very recommended.
An A class Distributor / Thrusters preferably engineered a bit.
Armor again optional but its a good idea to have mandatory if you're not running a shield.
Limpets. Make sure you have the Armory installed on your carrier to restock your ships with limpets.
At least 2 Mining Lasers more is better.
At least 1 Medium Subsurface Displacement Missile you will likely need at least two for the Cutter / Conda.
1 Seismic Charge Launcher to crack core rocks open.
1 Abrasion Launcher to get surface deposits when you crack a rock open.
I'd reccomend fixed mounts as the turrets wander all over.

What is important in mining is not how you get the goods but how fast and efficiently you do so. If a rock has at least 15% yield for a resource im looking for ill zap it with the lasers. If i see a rock that will be easy to mine from I'll throw a limpet at it on my way to a glowy rock. If the rock is spinning like crazy I'll just move on, unless its really good it's usually not worth the time and limpets. Surface deposits on their own only if they're easy to get at or there are at least 2. Always go after a core asteroid but be sure to get all the deposits before you crack it.

 

[Dziondziak]

Thanks OP. I have been just doing surface mining as it is easy enough. I will look into subsurface if it is more efficient. Glad I brought the gear.

 

[ADAMtheWELSHMANz]

Realistically after getting into all the new mining types myself recently (been out exploring for several months) you can reasonable expect to get around 100t of tritium per hour in a single hotspot.

Sub surface and deep core offer the best returns though laser mining and surface blasting if you have the hardpoints available are worth carrying too.

In all honesty getting 10,000ly from the nearest refuelling port and needing to mine 4000+t's would be a a major pita imo.

Much better to buy what you need either from ports or through buy orders, though even the best prices offered may not be enough if you're too far out.

If the DSAA network offers refuelling services, even a 1000t or so, they'd be worth detouring to or consider creating an expedition and encouraging others to help with mining along the way to alleviate the issue.

With 5 Cmdrs onboard, travelling around 2,500ly a week would require a commitment of about 2 hours a week of mining, as long as you're carrier isn't full to the brim.

Hope this helps somewhat and good luck Cmdr.

 

[Some1else]

Mining for FC fuel is a was of time. If you find yourself out in the black with your FC out of fuel, you game time will consist of mining, and hotspot hunting. It ain't worth it. Unless FD fixes tritium mining to about double the return, I wouldn't both with taking a FC very far out of the bubble. Unless you have a fleet of commanders mining for you.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

…
Always go after a core asteroid but be sure to get all the deposits before you crack it.

Thanks for the detailed reply.
So it is a combination of the available methods and looking for good asteroids. Good to know. I will upgrade my laser mining Anaconda to the new requirements for mining.

Realistically after getting into all the new mining types myself recently (been out exploring for several months) you can reasonable expect to get around 100t of tritium per hour in a single hotspot.

Sub surface and deep core offer the best returns though laser mining and surface blasting if you have the hardpoints available are worth carrying too.
…

Thanks for your information on how to fuel a FC in the black.
100t/h sound not that much, but I have no clue how much tritium my FC needs for a 500 ly jump. But with this informations I can start testing and getting some practice.

 

[Some1else]

...
Thanks for your information on how to fuel a FC in the black.
100t/h sound not that much, but I have no clue how much tritium my FC needs for a 500 ly jump. But with this informations I can start testing and getting some practice.

One 500 Ly jump is going to use around 250T of tritium. So, expect to spend at least 2 hours mining, and then your 20 jump time. And then you'll have to go searching for another tritium hotspot.

And is why I am dumping my FC. It ain't worth it to me! But I hope you enjoy yours.

 

[Mr T]

I'd recommend fixed mounts as the turrets wander all over.

I second that. When I first outfit for this new kind of mining I just picked the more expensive equipment which I didn't notice until later was turret mounted. Charges were flying all over the place with those. I changed to fixed mounted equipment and it was so much easier.

 

[777Driver]

One 500 Ly jump is going to use around 250T of tritium. So, expect to spend at least 2 hours mining, and then your 20 jump time. And then you'll have to go searching for another tritium hotspot.

That is incorrect, if you are running on fumes, expect to burn around 152 tonnes of tritium per 500LY jump, that is with a shipyard, outfitting, armoury.

A carrier will do around 56,000LY one way before needing a refuel (that is without alt fuel tanks) I managed Bubble, Core, Colonia, bubble on 19,000 tonnes, I dumped the heavy shipyard at Colonia.

Mining should be a last resort, there are carriers offering refuelling services for fringe explorers, however prices are likely high.

It is important to cancel all buy orders before setting off on a trip, otherwise the carrier will burn excess fuel.

 

[ADAMtheWELSHMANz]

Can't find link atm but google Spansh route plotter> Fleet carrier and it'll give you a pretty accurate read on amount of tritium for a goven journey.

As 777 said cancel buy orders as it counts towards your weight and decreases efficiency.

Short of trying to circumnavigate the galaxy solo they are very usable by a sole Cmdr as long as you plan ahead.

 

[Some1else]

That is incorrect, if you are running on fumes, expect to burn around 152 tonnes of tritium per 500LY jump, that is with a shipyard, outfitting, armoury.

A carrier will do around 56,000LY one way before needing a refuel (that is without alt fuel tanks) I managed Bubble, Core, Colonia, bubble on 19,000 tonnes, I dumped the heavy shipyard at Colonia.

Mining should be a last resort, there are carriers offering refuelling services for fringe explorers, however prices are likely high.

It is important to cancel all buy orders before setting off on a trip, otherwise the carrier will burn excess fuel.

Fair enough, but one would still look at an hour + to get enough for a single jump. And what kind of stock are you carrying in the shipyard, and outfitting? 56,000 LY on a tank. And how far is Beagle point?

I fully understand that filling up before you go is the way to do it. I did so myself. But for me (and I stress that), it is not functional as an independent FC, if I have to return to the bubble to fill up. I wish to go, and not look back, and not end up mining for hours just to move my carrier a thousand LY. And I think commanders considering getting a FC should know what some of the realities are before spending the credits.

 

[sabacthani]

I dont mine for tritium specifically in the void. Looking for Opals (rocking horse droppings) and LTD's. If I come across a roid with a good amount of tritium I will mine it. I also mine metallics but only occasionally.
I left the bubble with about 16,000 units of Tritium, with the aim of topping up occasionally. I only laser mine. I didnt want to spend all my time mining, hence I bought more than enough tritium with me.

 

[Susanna]

One 500 Ly jump is going to use around 250T of tritium. So, expect to spend at least 2 hours mining, and then your 20 jump time. And then you'll have to go searching for another tritium hotspot.

And is why I am dumping my FC. It ain't worth it to me! But I hope you enjoy yours.

I share your angst with the Tritium FC refueling... Going out in the black with the FC is a non-starter for me if I need to mine significant Tritium... You can make it out about 25kLy and back again on a full cargo hold of Tritium (~55kLy total). But places further than this (think round trip unless you can buy Trit at your destination like Colonia/Sag A*) are a bad idea until some form of Trit collection is implimented with the FCs. We can only hope!

 

[Susanna]

It is important to cancel all buy orders before setting off on a trip, otherwise the carrier will burn excess fuel.

Curious!? Why is this? Because it allocates cargo capacity and assumes it being used? If so - not well implimented?

 

[777Driver]

Curious!? Why is this? Because it allocates cargo capacity and assumes it being used? If so - not well implimented?

Probably some technical reason, who knows. It is a bit silly, like the complete llack of a cargo bay-Main fuel tank feed.

It does seem that these carriers are modified orbital stations, so probably a bunch of limitations due to not being designed from the ground up.

We do get some perks, like being able to extend carrier range by storing fuel on player ships, with no mass penalty.

For someone that was going hardcore out to the far fringes beyond 60,000LY, they could take a group of friends and get there & back with plenty of fuel to spare. Each player holding 790+ tonnes of fuel each, or use Alt account fuel tanks, if you don't mind paying the £6 quid. Each additional ship would provide 3000LY range to the carrier.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

Thanks for all the information.

A few more questions:
What is the difference between class 1 and class 2 mining tools - subsurface missile and charge launcher?
Is there an advantage of using more then one of those tools (incl. the blaster)?

 

[Deleted member 38366]

Thanks for all the information.

A few more questions:
What is the difference between class 1 and class 2 mining tools - subsurface missile and charge launcher?
Is there an advantage of using more then one of those tools (incl. the blaster)?

You'll get significantly more Ammo on these tools.
Especially the SubSurface Missile Launcher (Class 1) very quickly runs out of Ammo, so carrying a Class 2 (or even a 2nd one) is extremely helpful.
96 vs. 32 Ammo is a big difference.

Same for the Seismic Charge Launcher, although it isn't by far as affected by Ammo shortage as the SubSurface Missile Launcher.

 

[Tono Kopec]

Thanks for all the information.

A few more questions:
What is the difference between class 1 and class 2 mining tools - subsurface missile and charge launcher?
Is there an advantage of using more then one of those tools (incl. the blaster)?

You only need one Abrasion Blaster.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

You'll get significantly more Ammo on these tools.
…

Thanks. Somehow I haven't noticed that while shopping for those new tools.

You only need one Abrasion Blaster.

Good to know. Thanks.