Mining in the 'verse
A practical reference for finding, identifying and cracking valuable rocks. We'll build this out with current patch data, tested loadouts and location notes — not guesswork.
1. Choose your mining platform
There are three distinct mining careers: ship mining (asteroids and large surface rocks), ROC mining (large gem clusters on moons and planets), and FPS mining (small deposits in caves and on foot). A ship laser cannot mine every deposit, and a ROC is not a replacement for a Prospector.
Mining ships and vehicles
| Vehicle | Role | Buy price | Rental | Stock mining equipment | Wiki |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Golem | Solo ship miner · 32 SCU | 1,005,480 aUEC | 27,783 aUEC/day · Teach’s Rentals, Levski | Pitman mining laser (fixed) | Wiki ↗ |
| MISC Prospector | Solo ship miner · 48 SCU | 2,929,500 aUEC | 73,237 aUEC/day · Traveler Rentals, Everus Harbor; Vantage Rentals | Arbor MH1 | Wiki ↗ |
| ARGO MOLE | Multi-crew ship miner · 96 SCU | 8,930,250 aUEC | 223,257 aUEC/day · Traveler Rentals, Everus Harbor; Vantage Rentals | 3 × Arbor MH2 | Wiki ↗ |
| Greycat ROC | Solo ground gem miner · 0.8 SCU | 103,950 aUEC | 2,598 aUEC/day · Teach’s Rentals, Levski; Vantage Rentals | Arbor MHV | Wiki ↗ |
| Greycat ROC-DS | Ground gem miner · 3.4 SCU | 141,750 aUEC | Not available | Hofstede S00 | Wiki ↗ |
| ARGO ATLS GEO | Mining exosuit · 0.1 SCU | 86,184 aUEC | Not available | Lawson mining laser | Wiki ↗ |
Golem — cheapest way into ship mining
Strengths: low entry price, one-person operation, 32 SCU capacity and a purpose-built beginner laser. Good for learning scan/fracture/extract without a multi-million-credit commitment.
Weaknesses: bespoke Pitman head is hardware-locked, so it lacks the Prospector's flexible laser choice. Smaller and less capable than a MOLE for demanding rocks or organised multi-crew work. Stock laser is deliberately beginner-friendly rather than a high-end specialist.
Buy / earn: New Deal (Lorville), Teach’s Ship Shop (Levski). Also earned from Recco Battaglia at Prestige 1.
Prospector — best all-round solo ship miner
Strengths: single-seat workflow, interchangeable Size 1 head, four detachable 12 SCU bags (48 SCU total), scanner and living quarters. Ideal for solo asteroid runs and focused resource hunting.
Weaknesses: one laser means limited ability to crack very high-mass / high-resistance rocks alone; capacity is modest compared with MOLE. You must manage the fracture window yourself.
Buy / earn: New Deal (Lorville). Also earned from Recco Battaglia at Prestige 2.
MOLE — crew mining and heavy rocks
Strengths: three independently operated Size 2 turrets, can split across rocks or combine firepower on one stubborn deposit; 96 SCU working capacity and crew facilities. Best when you have a reliable crew and want throughput.
Weaknesses: expensive, larger operational footprint, and awkward solo operation because the pilot cannot work all three mining turrets at once. Requires coordination and role discipline.
Buy / earn: New Deal (Lorville). Also earned from Recco Battaglia at Prestige 3.
ROC / ROC-DS — gem hunting on the surface
Strengths: affordable, purpose-built for Hadanite, Dolivine, Aphorite and other ground gem clusters. ROC is nimble and easy to transport in a suitable carrier; ROC-DS trades manoeuvrability for larger capacity and a second seat.
Weaknesses: requires a planet/moon surface expedition and a carrier ship for practical deployment. Not for ship-minable ore. Terrain, darkness and vehicle handling can make collection slower.
Buy: ROC and ROC-DS at New Deal (Lorville) or Teach’s Ship Shop (Levski).
ATLS GEO — compact ground alternative
Strengths: a one-person mining exosuit with a small mining laser; useful where you want a compact ground platform rather than a wheeled ROC.
Weaknesses: very limited carrying capacity compared with ROC vehicles, and not a ship-mining substitute. Confirm its current gameplay loop and storage behaviour in-game before investing.
Buy / earn: n/a.
Battaglia’s Alliance ship rewards
| Reputation with Recco | Contract | Ship earned | Notable equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige 1 | Extra Special Job | Drake Golem Alliance | Ultra-Flow cooler, Breton power plant, Colossus quantum drive, Palisade shield |
| Prestige 2 | Scan with a Prospector Payout | MISC Prospector Alliance | Helix I mining head, Snowpack cooler, Genoa power plant, Colossus drive, Palisade shields |
| Prestige 3 | Mining and Mole | ARGO MOLE Alliance | Helix II and 2 × Hofstede S2 mining heads, Chill-Max coolers, Durango power plant, Parapet shield |
You’ll find Recco at Levski in Nyx. Her early reputation tiers open the ship contracts; completing those contracts is what earns the ships. The Alliance rewards are currently listed for the three dedicated mining ships — Golem, Prospector and MOLE.
What the stock loadout means
The standard Prospector uses an Arbor MH1; standard MOLE uses three Arbor MH2 heads; ROC uses an Arbor MHV; ROC-DS uses a Hofstede S00; the Golem uses a bespoke Pitman; ATLS GEO uses a Lawson. Variant ships can differ: for example, the Prospector Alliance and MOLE Alliance have different stock heads. The Golem's Pitman is bespoke and not the same as a freely swappable Size 1 laser.
2. Mining gadgets
Gadgets are handheld tools deployed onto a rock to temporarily change how it behaves. They are especially useful when the rock is close to your laser's limit. You can apply one gadget per rock; don't plan around stacking multiple gadgets.
| Gadget | Instability | Resistance | Charge window | Charge rate | Cluster | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BoreMax ↗ | −70% | +10% | — | — | +30% | Tames unstable rocks; slight resistance penalty. |
| Okunis ↗ | — | — | +50% | +100% | −20% | Bigger, faster charge window; lower cluster yield. |
| OptiMax ↗ | — | −30% | −30% | — | +60% | Keeps fragments together; tighter charge window. |
| Sabir ↗ | +15% | −50% | +50% | — | — | Cuts resistance sharply, but adds instability. |
| Stalwart ↗ | −35% | — | −30% | +50% | +30% | Fast charge and cluster bonus; smaller window. |
| WaveShift ↗ | −35% | — | +100% | −30% | — | Large forgiving window and lower instability; slower charge. |
3. Mining laser heads
Heads are size-specific. Size 1 is used by the Prospector; Size 2 by the MOLE; ground vehicles use Size 0. Each head name links to its Star Citizen Wiki page, including current shop information. Figures follow the published 4.10.2 reference values. Power is shown as a range where applicable; modifiers describe the head's effect on the rock / charge behaviour.
| Mining head | Size | Power | Optimal–max range | Extraction | Instability | Resistance | Window | Charge rate | Inert | Quick take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbor MH1 ↗ | 1 | 2,340 | 60–180 m | 1,850 | −35% | +25% | +40% | — | −30% | Reliable starter head; low instability, but adds resistance. |
| Arbor MH2 ↗ | 2 | 2,900 | 90–270 m | 2,590 | −35% | +25% | +40% | — | −40% | Size 2 version of the forgiving Arbor profile. |
| Helix I ↗ | 1 | 3,900 | 15–45 m | 1,850 | — | −30% | −40% | — | −30% | High power and lower resistance; short range and tight window. |
| Helix II ↗ | 2 | 4,930 | 30–90 m | 2,590 | — | −30% | −40% | — | −40% | Heavy-hitting MOLE option; work close to the rock. |
| Hofstede-S1 ↗ | 1 | 2,600 | 45–135 m | 1,295 | +10% | −30% | +60% | +20% | −30% | Lowers resistance and opens the window; adds instability. |
| Hofstede-S2 ↗ | 2 | 4,060 | 60–180 m | 1,295 | +10% | −30% | +60% | +20% | −40% | Size 2 version for resistant rocks and controlled charges. |
| Impact I ↗ | 1 | 2,600 | 45–135 m | 2,775 | −10% | +10% | +20% | −40% | −30% | Stable window, but slower charge and slightly more resistance. |
| Impact II ↗ | 2 | 4,060 | 60–180 m | 3,145 | −10% | +10% | +20% | −40% | −40% | Size 2 specialist with three module slots. |
| Klein-S1 ↗ | 1 | 3,120 | 45–135 m | 2,220 | +35% | −45% | +20% | — | −30% | Cuts resistance but brings a substantial instability penalty. |
| Klein-S2 ↗ | 2 | 4,350 | 60–180 m | 2,775 | +35% | −45% | +20% | — | −40% | High-output Size 2 choice; stability support helps. |
| Lancet MH1 ↗ | 1 | 3,120 | 30–90 m | 1,850 | −10% | — | −60% | +40% | −30% | Stable and quick to charge, but with a narrow window. |
| Lancet MH2 ↗ | 2 | 4,350 | 45–135 m | 2,590 | −10% | — | −60% | +40% | −40% | Size 2 precision head; requires careful control. |
| Pitman ↗ | 1* | 3,900 | 40–45 m | 1,295 | +35% | +25% | +40% | −40% | −40% | Golem's bespoke, hardware-locked head. |
| Arbor MHV ↗ | 0 | 0.8 | 5–15 m | 3 | −40% | — | — | — | — | ROC head. |
| Lawson ↗ | 0 | 0.8 | 5–15 m | 4 | +30% | −40% | +40% | — | — | ATLS GEO head. |
| S0 Helix ↗ | 0 | 1 | 8–18 m | 5 | — | — | −40% | +20% | — | Compact vehicle head. |
| S00 Hofstede ↗ | 0 | 0.8 | 8–18 m | 4 | +30% | −40% | +40% | +20% | — | ROC-DS head. |
A head's stated power, range and modifiers are only part of the decision. Mass, resistance, instability, your module slots and the number of operators firing all matter. Don't choose purely by the highest power number.
4. Mining modules and attachments
Ship mining heads accept modules in their available slots. Passive modules remain active; consumable / active modules have limited charges and a duration. Names have multiple tiers, so check the exact variant in the item terminal before buying.
| Module | What it changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rieger ↗ | Adds mining power; tighter effective window. | More power for tougher rocks. |
| Focus ↗ | Wider optimal window; lower laser power. | A more forgiving fracture window. |
| Torrent ↗ | Fills the optimal window faster. | Faster charge when you can keep control. |
| FLTR ↗ | Reduces inert material; lowers extraction power. | More cargo space for valuable ore. |
| XTR ↗ | Wider window and less inert material; lower extraction power. | More forgiving extraction with cleaner cargo. |
| Vaux ↗ | Slower charge, faster extraction. | When cracking is manageable and extraction speed matters. |
| Brandt ↗ | Active power boost for a limited time. | Temporary help with difficult deposits. |
| Clearcut ↗ | Active mining-power increase. | Short burst of extra fracture power. |
| Forel ↗ | Strong active mining-power increase. | High-resistance targets; manage the charge carefully. |
| Optimum ↗ | Active charge-control adjustment. | Situational tool; check exact variant stats. |
| Torpid ↗ | Active control / charge behaviour adjustment. | Situational tool; check exact variant stats. |
5. Rock scan signatures (RS): what the number means
Patch 4.7 changed ship-mining identification: the old I / C / S / P / M / Q / E asteroid-type shorthand was removed from the underlying signature data. Ship-minable rocks now have mineral-specific base signatures. The following values are extracted from the 4.7 game data by a community data project; the signature identifies the dominant mineral, but detailed scan composition is still the final check.
Ship-minable asteroid and surface-rock signatures
| Mineral | Base RS | Tier | Composition notes from dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantainium | 3,170 | Legendary | Often Beryl secondary (10–20%) |
| Stileron (Sileron) | 3,185 | Legendary | Taranite secondary (10–20%) |
| Savrilium | 3,200 | Legendary | Gold secondary (10–20%) |
| Ouratite | 3,370 | Epic | Agricium secondary (10–20%) |
| Riccite | 3,385 | Epic | Laranite secondary (10–20%) |
| Lindinium | 3,400 | Epic | Tungsten secondary (10–20%) |
| Beryl | 3,540 | Rare | Often 50–100% pure |
| Taranite | 3,555 | Rare | Often 50–100% pure |
| Borase | 3,570 | Rare | Gold + Bexalite (5–10% each) |
| Gold | 3,585 | Rare | Borase + Bexalite (5–10% each) |
| Bexalite | 3,600 | Rare | Gold + Borase (5–10% each) |
| Laranite | 3,825 | Uncommon | Tungsten secondary (10–20%) |
| Aslarite | 3,840 | Uncommon | Titanium + Agricium (5–10% each) |
| Titanium | 3,855 | Uncommon | Aslarite + Agricium (5–10% each) |
| Tungsten | 3,870 | Uncommon | Laranite secondary (10–20%) |
| Agricium | 3,885 | Uncommon | Titanium + Aslarite (5–10% each) |
| Torite | 3,900 | Uncommon | Often 50–100% pure |
| Hephaestanite | 4,180 | Common | Quartz + Silicon (5–10% each) |
| Tin | 4,195 | Common | Copper secondary (10–20%) |
| Quartz | 4,210 | Common | Hephaestanite + Silicon (5–10% each) |
| Corundum | 4,225 | Common | Aluminium secondary (10–20%) |
| Copper | 4,240 | Common | Tin secondary (10–20%) |
| Silicon | 4,255 | Common | Hephaestanite + Quartz (5–10% each) |
| Iron | 4,270 | Common | Often 50–100% pure |
| Aluminium | 4,285 | Common | Corundum secondary (10–20%) |
| Ice | 4,300 | Common | Often 50–100% pure |
Ground deposits: ROC and FPS
| Signature | Deposit type | What it tells you | Possible minerals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 | Small FPS / hand-mining deposit | Identifies the small deposit size class, not the gem type | Hadanite, Dolivine, Aphorite, Beradom, Glacosite, Feynmaline, Jaclium, Sadaryx, Janalite, Saldynium, Carinite |
| 4,000 | Large ROC / ground-vehicle deposit | Identifies the large ground deposit class, not the gem type | Same possible mineral family as above |
The signature research notes that each ground cluster is one mineral type at 100% purity, and a mineral appears as either small or large deposits within a cluster. 3,000 can also collide with capital wreck debris in space; 4,000 can collide with legacy generic surface entities. Context matters.
Quick examples and how to use them
- 3,170: investigate for Quantainium — then detailed-scan for percentage, mass, resistance and instability.
- 3,585: Gold-dominant ship-minable rock signature; expect possible Borase / Bexalite by-products.
- 3,000 on a moon surface: likely a small FPS gem deposit; it does not tell you whether it is Hadanite or another gem.
- 4,000 at ground level: likely a ROC-sized gem deposit; identify the mineral with the actual scan / visual deposit data.
6. Where to find ore
Resource distribution is location- and method-specific. Use a current ore finder for the exact mineral and mining method before making a long trip. This page will grow into a full ore-to-location directory as the spawn tables are verified against the live patch.
Aaron Halo
Stanton asteroid belt. A classic ship-mining destination; suitable for Prospector and MOLE operations. Use mineral signature and detailed scan data to identify the rock rather than assuming every belt cluster has the same composition.
Aberdeen
Hurston moon. Offers surface mining opportunities, including ROC / FPS routes, as well as ship-minable deposits. Prepare for harsh environmental conditions and bring appropriate equipment.
Daymar
Crusader moon. Popular for surface gem runs and vehicle mining. A carrier ship makes deploying and recovering a ROC much easier.
Asteroid fields and Lagrange points
Atmosphere-free ship mining with no planetary landing leg. Useful for Prospector / MOLE crews; exact mineral distribution varies by field and patch.
7. The mining loop
- Choose your method: ship laser, ROC or hand mining.
- Travel to a location known to contain the target resource.
- Ping, then target and detailed-scan individual rocks.
- Check composition, mass, resistance and instability before committing.
- Choose the head, modules and (if needed) one gadget to suit the rock.
- Fracture within the optimal charge window; avoid overcharge and catastrophic shatter.
- Extract the valuable material. Ship-mined ore can be refined; ground gems are collected directly.
Patch note: prices, shop stock and equipment modifiers are patch-sensitive. This pass uses LIVE 4.10.2 item / shop data available on 4 November 2026. Some vendor stock and detailed spawn distributions remain best checked in the live UEX / ore-finder tools before travelling.