I'm pretty new to mining and was checking out some Youtube videos with some good guides and I saw some that talked about mining Void Opals. Is this resource still a pretty good and viable option for mining for income?
Mining Void Opals still viable?
- Thread starter joejccva71
- Start date
yes
Yeah, over the last three weeks or so I've made around 2 billion mining chiefly VOs, though I do not turn my nose up at most other core minerals. That's fairly viable. But it takes a little planning to make it as efficient as possible. I explore a lot and keep paper notes on pristine and major systems with icy rings, and always check Inara for data about the best price at the time, then plan the mining session accordingly.
Ok thanks guys!
It is indeed. One thing, though: we've had some posts here recently (since everyone wanted to start saving up, I guess) from people who imagine that opal mining is simply press button make fortune. It does take work, practice, time.
Yes, you can absolutely make that 200m that Tacyon got - and as someone who enjoys mining, I'd certainly recommend giving it a try - but don't get too frustrated when it doesn't happen immediately. Watch those videos and practice, you'll get the money in due course.
Yes, you can absolutely make that 200m that Tacyon got - and as someone who enjoys mining, I'd certainly recommend giving it a try - but don't get too frustrated when it doesn't happen immediately. Watch those videos and practice, you'll get the money in due course.
Absolutely correct. One of the reasons I actually enjoy core mining despite the time stretches need to fill my hold is that it does require learning the tools and their quirkier characteristics, and having to adapt to a multiplicity of situations within the mining environment, like very fast rotating rocks, avoiding sudden pirate threats, trying not to face-plant in an asteroid when you fall asleep at the wheel, etc.
I've just being trying my hand at this.
Question: Are all Void Opal hot spots (or indeed, Pristine Icy Rings) equal, or is it better to avoid those in the bubble, on the basis that many other cmdrs are also depleting them?
Question: Are all Void Opal hot spots (or indeed, Pristine Icy Rings) equal, or is it better to avoid those in the bubble, on the basis that many other cmdrs are also depleting them?
I mine < 40lys from Sol and can make > 300mil in <2hrs
I used to go out of the Bubble because I wanted to avoid NPC pirates. Then I learned how to kill them. Now I mine one jump from Jameson.
A few tricks:
Asteroids spawn when you fly through the ring, but most of them spawn behind you. Look around when you see a new asteroid spawning.
Don't be too greedy only going for opals. There are other valuable rocks, and if you find one of the stations paying 1.6 million per opal, they will normally also pay a decent price for diamonds etc. That way you'll increase you CR/h.
Bring many collector limpet controllers (and limpets).
Don't overlook smaller cheap ships for mining - a Keelback with a 32t cargo rack will net you 60M+ credits which equates to pretty much three cores. Quick, cheap, fun and a good entry point - plus its easy to move around those rocks if you're not a whizz just yet.
Like this one.....
Keelback Miner
Like this one.....
Keelback Miner
OK, I'm already mining in the vicinity of Jameson. No need to change then.
I'm using a Python for this, 144 tons of cargo space and I take 120 limpets. As I am now getting much better at spotting the core asteroids, I've started to need to dump limpets to make space, so maybe I'll start taking less.
Also already taking anything that fetches over 500,000Cr per ton. The trip to sell stuff is just a few jumps anyway, so no need to save the cargo space only for void opals.
I'm using a Python for this, 144 tons of cargo space and I take 120 limpets. As I am now getting much better at spotting the core asteroids, I've started to need to dump limpets to make space, so maybe I'll start taking less.
Also already taking anything that fetches over 500,000Cr per ton. The trip to sell stuff is just a few jumps anyway, so no need to save the cargo space only for void opals.
On the Python consider using the centered hardpoint for the seismic charge launcher. That makes it considerably easier to hit fissures. I'm also using a Python, and I have T-10, Condas, Cutter, Kraits and a lot of other ships equiped for mining. Nothing beats the Python for core mining.
I used to back off the rock before it blew. With a decent shield (4A+3xboosters) you can scrape the nose of the Python against the exploding rock without damage. That makes the distance the limpets has to travel shorter (faster).
Using thrusters to orbit the rock with the nose pointed towards it is great fun, and turns out to be very handy in combat as well.
Good luck and happy mining
I've set my throttle to full range with a large deadzone that is adjusted to the dents in the throttle movement (X52). That way you get another button free and it's easier for my brain to handle intuitively:
Edit: Also doing 180's in combat with flight assist ON is dead simple this way. Just pull both throttle and stick towards you until you see your own smoke in front of you and then hit boost
Last edited:
My 'Conda could hold 224T and my Python (now my dedicated core miner) is at 160. In each case I take around half that tonnage in limpets, and usually end up dumping some to tailor the final loads. They're cheap. The vagaries of core yields makes it basically impossible to get the balance exact, and limpet self-destruction can get out of hand at times. Plus I'm conservative and do manual scoops rather than launching limpets for the last five or six chunks.
Last edited:
These guys have covered most everything. only things I would suggest on top of that is:
*If you are running a weaker shield, make sure to back up about 1km from the rock before blowing it. it won't hurt you that way.
*Make sure to open your cargo hatch before your collector limpets bring stuff back.
*Make sure there is enough distance between the bottom of your ship and any asteroids. Those limpets like to dive down low underneath you before bringing the stuff to your hatch. If a rock is too close beneath you the limpets will suicide into them.
When first starting it can be frustrating. you'll waste a lot of prospect limpets on rocks that looked promising but turn out to be duds. After some time at it though you'll figure out the difference between a good rock and troll rock. So to start out i'd bring about 75% cargo full of limpets. Better to bring too many and have to dump some than have to head home with only half of your cargo full of valuables.
Also, something that I learned the hard way: Limpets aren't restocked with the restock all option. have to go into advanced maintenance and restock them that way.
Good luck!
*If you are running a weaker shield, make sure to back up about 1km from the rock before blowing it. it won't hurt you that way.
*Make sure to open your cargo hatch before your collector limpets bring stuff back.
*Make sure there is enough distance between the bottom of your ship and any asteroids. Those limpets like to dive down low underneath you before bringing the stuff to your hatch. If a rock is too close beneath you the limpets will suicide into them.
When first starting it can be frustrating. you'll waste a lot of prospect limpets on rocks that looked promising but turn out to be duds. After some time at it though you'll figure out the difference between a good rock and troll rock. So to start out i'd bring about 75% cargo full of limpets. Better to bring too many and have to dump some than have to head home with only half of your cargo full of valuables.
Also, something that I learned the hard way: Limpets aren't restocked with the restock all option. have to go into advanced maintenance and restock them that way.
Good luck!
Couple things/tricks some have already mentioned ... I've boosted by mistake and just barely missed the roid I was standing in front of .. to avoid this, leave your cargo hatch open. You won't be able to boost and if you really HAVE to, close it and run. (be sure you're screaming like a little school girl tho...)
That 204m screenshot above was with either 50 or 60 limpets. You just learn to spot the fractures or fissures in the roids and nitevision helps a ton. These are the "void opal motherload" roids and the only ones I dispatch a prospector limpet into. Even tho you're in a VO hotspot, about 1 - 10 is something else. After a bit you'll learn what shape of roids are never VOML's. Also it still takes me a little time once onsite to adjust my eyes to the ROI (roids of interest). Due to lighting conditions some of the brighter roid duds throw me.... but once your up close, you won't see any fissures. The VO-ML, are usually towards the top or bottom of the belts. They're usually more rounded than most of the debris roids, and have what I call nodules or mesa's sticking out on one side and the tops of these usually have clear fissures. (see pics below) If you've noticed by now I've used the word "usually" because there is no hard set rules. It more of a feeling or art form to quickly identify. Once I have a ROI, and I've confirmed fissures, I fire a prospector limpet to confirm VO. Then its seismic charges. I fire high powers into anything until I get up to the bottom of the blue zone sweet spot then fire an underpowered charge into a average or high power fissure to get into the zone. Don't worry if you get a few reds bouncing in... it'll be ok. Remember, there is no personal problems that cannot be solved with the application of high explosives.
Once it goes boom (stay back about 2km) I pop 4 collectors ... some times 6 if I have limpets to burn towards the end of my cargo capacity. Then rinse and repeat.
Note the yellow circles that point out the fissures. These are VOML roids.
That 204m screenshot above was with either 50 or 60 limpets. You just learn to spot the fractures or fissures in the roids and nitevision helps a ton. These are the "void opal motherload" roids and the only ones I dispatch a prospector limpet into. Even tho you're in a VO hotspot, about 1 - 10 is something else. After a bit you'll learn what shape of roids are never VOML's. Also it still takes me a little time once onsite to adjust my eyes to the ROI (roids of interest). Due to lighting conditions some of the brighter roid duds throw me.... but once your up close, you won't see any fissures. The VO-ML, are usually towards the top or bottom of the belts. They're usually more rounded than most of the debris roids, and have what I call nodules or mesa's sticking out on one side and the tops of these usually have clear fissures. (see pics below) If you've noticed by now I've used the word "usually" because there is no hard set rules. It more of a feeling or art form to quickly identify. Once I have a ROI, and I've confirmed fissures, I fire a prospector limpet to confirm VO. Then its seismic charges. I fire high powers into anything until I get up to the bottom of the blue zone sweet spot then fire an underpowered charge into a average or high power fissure to get into the zone. Don't worry if you get a few reds bouncing in... it'll be ok. Remember, there is no personal problems that cannot be solved with the application of high explosives.
Once it goes boom (stay back about 2km) I pop 4 collectors ... some times 6 if I have limpets to burn towards the end of my cargo capacity. Then rinse and repeat.
Note the yellow circles that point out the fissures. These are VOML roids.
One more thing. When the rocks blow, they basically split into two halves, i.e. there is a plane from which the rocks gradually move away from at right angles. The fragments remain in that planar gap. If you keep your ship in that same plane ( as far as practical), the limpets can get a direct route in and out to collect the fragments, which means that they collect more quickly and don't self-destruct by smashing into the rocks.
I was determined to make 1 billion Cr load. Took about 6 hours (lots of tea & cake breaks) from double VO hotspot. Don't forget to fill your hopper for an extra dividend 1,073,436,406 billion CR total trip. Find VO core, adjust graphics to make them POP, off you go.
As far as night vision, I found this to be a huge hindrance when spotting cores. I only turned it on when firing charges.
Edi: I found rings that were not to densely populated, this made it easier to spot cores.
As far as night vision, I found this to be a huge hindrance when spotting cores. I only turned it on when firing charges.
Edi: I found rings that were not to densely populated, this made it easier to spot cores.
Last edited: