Research and progression
Mining Ship Setup
A mining ship can extract detector-confirmed layers and move ore in larger loads than a hand-only trip.
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Mining Ship Setup
Confirmed planetary or asteroid ore signals. Planetary deposits may continue in layers below the surface.
Before you go
- Mining ship with drills, cargo, and sufficient power.
- Ore Detector; large-grid range is useful for deep deposits.
- Powered Refinery reachable by the ship’s cargo and conveyors or manual transfer.
Farming steps
- Check ship power, maneuvering, drill controls, and cargo capacity before leaving the base.
- Set the Ore Detector to maximum range and locate a deposit; mark the signal for return navigation.
- Approach slowly and confirm the ore-bearing area with the HUD or a Hand Drill before cutting into terrain.
- Use the ship drills to make a controlled access route to the deposit, keeping the ship stable and clear of nearby terrain.
- Mine the confirmed vein and watch cargo inventory so stone does not consume all capacity.
- If the signal continues below the mined layer, withdraw or reposition safely, descend in stages, and scan again.
- Return to the refinery and transfer ore through conveyors or cargo inventory; collect the processed output.
- Separate the access cut from ore extraction in your plan so you can minimize unwanted stone in cargo.
- Make sure the ship can reverse or turn away from the cut before descending into a narrow opening.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat the same preparation, prospecting, extraction, and refinery loop at active deposits. A particular vein has limited material and may require a new site when depleted.
Common mistakes
- Descending before confirming a deposit: verify the signal and ore type first.
- Filling cargo with surrounding stone: monitor inventory and keep the extraction area focused.
- Launching without adequate power or cargo room: check both before committing to a remote mine.
When to stop or switch
Stop mining when cargo is near capacity, the vein no longer yields the target ore, or the ship cannot safely maneuver; return to base or choose a new signal.
Sources & fact checks
What you can get here
Open a guide to find other locations and see what the item is used for.