To All the Deep Space Prospectors,
Welcome to another update on Starminer. Today, we’re talking about Mining—a vital activity for gathering the necessary resources to build, expand, and sustain your space fleet. And ultimately, the reason why we're all here! To exploit the vast frontier of space and get rich in the process!
Before we get into the nitty gritty of prospecting, have a look at a brand new trailer about Mining in Starminer!
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Getting Started with Mining
Mining in space is a multi-step process that requires the right tools, planning, and equipment. Here’s how you get started:
Outfitting Your Rig
Before heading out, you'll equip your ship or station with the necessary mining tools. A well-outfitted rig includes Mining Lasers to break off chunks from asteroids, Scanners to identify resource-rich patches on the asteroid, Haulers—small vessels that transport mined chunks back to your station, Metal Storages to store both ore chunks and refined metals, and a Crew sufficient to keep your modules operating at optimum capacity. With your rig ready, you’re set to begin mining.
Finding an Asteroid
Navigate your ship to an asteroid. These space rocks, scattered across various star systems, contain different valuable resources. Once you’ve picked an asteroid and positioned yourself accordingly, you’re ready to start mining. Asteroids come in different shapes and sizes, and you can usually identify which asteroid holds which kind of resource.
Scanning for Resources
Before extracting resources, scan the asteroid using a Scanner Module. This highlights resource-rich areas on the surface, color-coded for easy identification: Blue Patches indicate Silicates (Si), while Green Patches show the asteroid’s primary resources, such as Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Thorium (Th), Eonite (Eo), or H₂O. from ice asteroids.
Mining with Lasers
Once you’ve identified the resource patches, you can start mining with your Mining Lasers. Different types of lasers offer various advantages: Advanced Lasers mine chunks faster and from a greater distance but require more energy, necessitating a stronger energy infrastructure. They also generate more heat, which needs to be managed carefully to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Keep in mind that mining can sometimes bring risks, so it’s important to stay alert.
Transporting the Ore and Ice
After mining, Haulers—specialized vessels—transport the chunks back to your space station. Maintaining an efficient flow of haulers is crucial for a steady supply of resources.
Refining the Ore
Once the chunks arrive at your station, they can either be stored for later use or refined into metals. Refining is how you turn raw ore into usable materials for construction, managed by Refinery Modules. There are three types of refineries:
- T1 Refinery: Compact, lightweight, and perfect for mobile stations. These refineries can process one chunk of Iron (Fe), Silicates (Si), or Cobalt (Co) at a time. Their smaller size and lower energy requirements make them ideal for stations on the move.
- T2 Refinery: Larger refineries that can handle three chunks at once and process Thorium (Th). They’re heavier and require more energy, making them better suited for non-mobile stations.
- T3 Refinery: The most advanced option, capable of refining five chunks at a time. They’re also the only refineries that can process Eonite (Eo), the rare resource needed for interstellar travel via Link Gates. Due to their size and energy demands, T3 refineries are best suited for permanent, non-mobile stations.
Resource Roles
Each resource you mine and refine plays a specific role in your station’s development: Iron (Fe), Silicates (Si), and Cobalt (Co) are the basics for constructing most station modules. Thorium (Th) is necessary for advanced modules and nuclear reactors. Eonite (Eo) is crucial for interstellar travel via Link Gates. H₂O is essential for maintaining your colonists and their habitats, making it one of the most important resources to manage. Silicates (Si) are particularly important as they’re the only resource used for repairing damaged modules. While abundant, they’re vital for keeping your station in top condition.
Building Drill Nodes on Asteroids
In addition to mining with lasers, players can build Drill Nodes on larger asteroids. Drill Nodes are structures that connect directly to an asteroid, extracting ore automatically and depositing it into storage modules. This method is ideal for long-term resource collection, as it requires less direct management and can be expanded with additional modules to increase efficiency and storage capacity.
Utilizing Drill Nodes for Asteroid Transport
One of the more advanced uses of Drill Nodes is their ability to move smaller asteroids. Because Drill Nodes attach securely to an asteroid, they can effectively "grab" it. This capability allows you to transport smaller asteroids to larger mining stations rather than moving the station to the asteroid. This can be a strategic advantage, especially if your mining operations are concentrated in areas with limited resources or if you want to centralize processing and storage at a larger station. By using Drill Nodes in this way, you can streamline your mining operations and optimize resource collection.
Storing Resources
Proper storage is critical for managing your resources. Metal Storages are used to store ore chunks and refined metals, ensuring that your raw and processed materials are kept safe until you’re ready to use them for construction or trade. Water Cisterns are special storage units designed for holding refined ice or water (H₂O). These are vital for maintaining your colonists and their habitats, as H₂O is essential for their survival and the upkeep of living conditions. Efficient storage management is key to keeping your station well-supplied and ready for any challenge.
Strategy and Decisions
Mining isn’t just about gathering resources—it’s about making smart, strategic decisions. Will you focus on quickly expanding with basic materials, or seek out rare ores like Thorium and Eonite for long-term advantages? Don’t forget that you'll need to manage your energy infrastructure and heat levels, especially if you’re using high-tier mining lasers and refineries. Proper use of Drill Nodes and efficient storage can keep your station thriving, but there are always risks involved, so stay vigilant!
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That’s all for this update on mining— We’re excited to see how you’ll shape your mining operations and build your space fleet! Please look forward to our next dev diary in October, and we hope you have a great rest of your month!
Until next time!
