Cobalt and rare minerals require locating the right deposit and using the matching production or research path. Ordinary mining and Rare Element Mining are separate tracks.
PC / Global, current base game
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
Campaign mission areas or outposts containing a visible Cobalt or other needed mineral deposit.
Treat each mineral as a specific target: confirm that the chosen mission exposes the needed resource, then inspect the node and the relevant research before building. This avoids spending an expedition on an assumed resource source.
Matching mine or handling research as shown in the current research tree.
Power and defenses for a remote extraction site.
Check the construction or research requirement and write down the exact mineral needed.
Review available mission locations and choose one that exposes that resource.
Land and explore until the relevant deposit is visible.
Inspect the node to confirm its mineral rather than inferring from the biome alone.
Check whether the current mine and handling research support collection of that resource.
Build the matching mine over a valid part of the node and connect power.
Secure the operation and enable transport back through the rift network.
Verify that the named resource appears in the base stockpile.
Farming tips
Use the displayed research tree for Rare Element Mining; do not assume ordinary mine research covers it.
Confirm the resource at the node before committing outpost materials.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat on another suitable deposit when the first finite patch is depleted or cannot supply enough. Research unlocks are generally progression steps, not repeatable harvests.
Common mistakes
Assuming a biome guarantees a specific mineral: inspect the actual deposit.
Using a standard mine where a distinct research or handling unlock is required: verify the listed requirement.
Counting remote output before checking transport: confirm it reaches central storage.
When to stop or switch
Stop the expedition once the target stockpile meets the planned requirement, or switch to a location with the confirmed mineral if the chosen map lacks it.
