Step by Step Mining Guide (2024)

Hey all! I wrote a step by step mining guide for Steam and I figured I'd share it here. If you have any questions, additions or feedback please let me know here or on the steam guide and I'll update and edit as needed.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437378871

Unlocking the Research

Before we start an asteroid or extraterrestrial mining operation it is important to unlock the key parts and understand what they do. There are several parts that are utilized for Mining.

Surface Scanning Module

Step by Step Mining Guide (1)

The Surface Scanning Module is a critical part in surveying a planet or moon. You will use this part to find the exact ore concentrations on the ground.

M700 Survey Scanner

Step by Step Mining Guide (2)

The M700 Survey Scanner is a critical part in setting up a mining satellite. You will use this part to survey a planet or moon in order to find general ore concentrations.

ISRU Converter

Step by Step Mining Guide (3)

The ISRU Converter is a critical part in setting up a refinery. You will use this part to convert ore into fuel.

'Drill-O-Matic' Mining Excavator

Step by Step Mining Guide (4)

The 'Drill-O-Matic' Mining Excavator is a critical part in setting up a mining operation. Obviously you will use this part to mine ore.

Small Holding Tank

Step by Step Mining Guide (5)The Small Holding Tank is a part in setting up a mining operation. Obviously you will use this part to store ore.

Large Holding Tank

Step by Step Mining Guide (6)

The Large Holding Tank is a part in setting up a mining operation. Obviously you will use this part to store ore.

M4435 Narrow-Band Scanner

Step by Step Mining Guide (7)

The M4435 Narrow-Band Scanner is an optional part in surveying a planet or moon. This part will allow you to see a narrow swath of land with higher detail than the Survey Scanner.

Scanning for Ore Concentrations

Step 1. Setup an ore concentration scanning satellite.

The satellite will need;

  • M700 Survey Scanner
  • Any Antenna
  • A Control Module (Probably probe, but you could do it manned)
  • Power Generation*
  • Power Storage*
  • Xenon Fuel and Engines**
  • Small Inline Reaction Wheel**
  • M4435 Narrow-Band Scanner**

*You can get away with having just either power generation or a lot of power stored in batteries. When you first use the M700 Survey Scanner it will transfer the scans back to Kerbin which takes a lot of power.

**These are nice things to have on a scanning satellite, but by no means required.

Step by Step Mining Guide (8)

Step 2. Launch the scanning satellite into POLAR orbit around the moon/planet you intend to mine.

A polar orbit of 25000m* to 1,500,000m* is required to use the M700 scanner.

The a POLAR orbit is required in order to properly scan the moon or planet you intend to mine. Usually in KSP we setup equatorial orbits, so I am stressing that the orbit needs to be polar for a very specific reason. If you accidentally setup an equatorial orbit it will take a lot of ÃŽâ€v to fix.

*These may vary on very small or very large objects like Jool or Minmus, but generally speaking a 50,000 to 100,000 orbit will do just fine.

Step by Step Mining Guide (9)

Step 3. Use the satellite to determine a high concentration of ore.

Once you have scanned the moon or planet and transfered the data back to Kerbin (you'll get 10 science) you'll be able to overlay ore concentration onto the moon or planet you scanned. You can setup the overlay from the satellite or from the Tracking Station.

Step3a - From the satellite

From the satellite right click the M700 Survey Scanner and select 'Toggle Overlay'. When you enter the map mode you'll see the moon/planet you scanned with an ore concentration overlay now. You can adjust your M700 Survey Scanner to hone in on a good mining operation location.

Use Cutoff+ to raise the minimum ore concentration in order for the overlay to display. Basically you want to keep raising this percentage until there's no overlay left, then use Cutoff- just once and all of the terrain highlighted will be the highest concentration locations.

Step3b. - From the tracking station

First, focus on the body you just scanned. On the right panel of your screen where the Info and Orbit icons are there will be a new icon for Resources. Click the button and then select Resources -> Ore. The setup here on out is the same as it was on the satellite, use cutoff+ to find the highest concentration possible.

Step by Step Mining Guide (10)

Surface Scan with a Rover (Optional)

This part is a little optional, you can setup a base from the M700 Survey Scan, but that scan only tells you generally what concentrations of resources will be in an area. On the surface, concentrations will vary by a few percentage points. In order to find the most ideal location for a mining base, I suggest using a rover with a surface scanner.

You'll want somewhere fairly flat, trying to land a giant mining base on slopes is going to be tricky. The slopes will also block direct sunlight, so if you're in the inner solar system you want as much sunshine as possible. (This patch also made it so any moon/planet past Dres has really bad solar power generation)

You'll want something close to the equator. It'll be easier to land/take off from and it'll have longer days than if you setup on the poles.

You can setup your rover to also double as a fuel tanker. Setup the rover so it has a docking bay that can couple with your mining base. If you then design and build ships that can dock with your rover you can export the ore or fuel from the surface.

Attached is a picture of my fuel rover.

Step by Step Mining Guide (11)

Setting up a Mining Base

Once you've picked out a specific location for a mining base it's time to set it up! This guide assumes you know how to land, orbit, etc and I don't want to tell you exactly what to design and setup, but here is some tips and ideas.

  • Make sure your drills are attached to a HIGH mass object like a giant fuel tank. Drills will produce heat and when they're attached to high mass objects, the high mass objects help to absorb a lot of that heat efficiently.
  • Attach solar panels or wings to the high mass object / fuel tank your drills are attached to. They'll act as passive radiators, dissipating heat away from your drills.
  • Setup your mining drill so that it has a pilotable command module for an engineer. Engineers also help to manage and dissipate heat from the drills.
  • Set up your mining base so it can be docked with in some way, otherwise all the ore and fuel you're producing will likely go to waste.
  • Bring a lot of batteries or fuel cells. If you want your drills and ISRU to run continuously you'll need to supply it with a lot of power. Solar generation is great, but when it is night time on the planet or moon you're on, you'll need batteries or fuel cells to keep it going.
  • Think about setting up a mining base that is coupled with a fuel rover. You can use the fuel rover to dock with landing vessels to refuel them, or to use a reusable vessel to transport the fuel to an orbital station.
  • Make sure to have storage for all the types of fuel you'll want to produce. The ISRU can make MonoProp, Liquid and Oxidizer. If you don't have a tank for MonoProp, for instance, you won't be able to produce it. With that in mind also make sure your fuel rover has storage for all types too.

Here's a little screenshot of the first Mining Base I setup if that helps you.

Step by Step Mining Guide (12)

Mining an Asteroid

Every asteroid will have a certain mass and ore concentration. Mining an asteroid is very much like mining a planet or moon. You'll need drills, ISRU, heat management and power management. Keep in mind a few VERY important things.

  • Asteroid mass is limited. This means you can deplete an asteroid of ore.
  • Asteroids come with their own ore concentrations, meaning a 95% Class A asteroid can have more ore than a 5% Class C asteroid.
  • Turn off your drills when your ore tanks are full. The drills will keep depleting the asteroid even if you have nowhere to put the ore.

Here's a screenshot of a Class A 95% concentration asteroid I landed at KSP.

Step by Step Mining Guide (13)

Edited by rhadamant

Step by Step Mining Guide (2024)

FAQs

Step by Step Mining Guide? ›

The mining industry operates through a sequence of stages: exploration, discovery, development, production and reclamation. All stages of this Mining Cycle provide direct economic stimulus.

What is the mining process step by step? ›

The mining industry operates through a sequence of stages: exploration, discovery, development, production and reclamation. All stages of this Mining Cycle provide direct economic stimulus.

How to do Bitcoin mining for beginners? ›

The following steps will guide you in the process of mining Bitcoins:
  1. Setup mining hardware.
  2. Create a Bitcoin wallet.
  3. Configure your equipment.
  4. Join a mining pool.
  5. Start mining.
  6. Costs of Bitcoin mining.
Jun 7, 2024

How to solo mine BTC? ›

To mine Bitcoin, set up a powerful computer with specialized hardware (ASICs). Download and configure Bitcoin mining software, and join a mining pool to increase your chances of earning rewards.

How long does it take to mine 1 oz of gold? ›

Let's say that yields a quarter of a gram, which amounts to about 0.75 grams of gold per hour, and that gives just about 42 hours to get an ounce of gold by panning in a typical but decent spot.

What are the 8 steps in mining exploration? ›

The Mineral Exploration Process: How it's done
  • Step 1: Desktop Research and Data Analysis. ...
  • Step 2: Field Mapping and Sampling. ...
  • Step 3: Geophysical Surveys. ...
  • Step 4: Geochemical Testing. ...
  • Step 5: Drilling. ...
  • Step 6: Resource Estimation. ...
  • Step 7: Feasibility Studies. ...
  • Step 8: Addressing Depleting Ore Bodies.
Jan 10, 2024

How do I start mining step by step? ›

The following are the steps to take when executing the mining process:
  1. Set up the Mining Software.
  2. Configure Mining Settings.
  3. Start the Mining Process.
  4. Monitor and Manage Mining Operations.
  5. Optimize Mining Performance.
  6. Troubleshooting and Maintenance.
  7. Adapt to Changing Conditions.
  8. Keep Records and Track Expenses.
May 16, 2023

How much money do I need to start mining? ›

Choosing more budget-friendly options, the cost of a home mining rig comes in at around $3,400, which is a significant up-front cost and could take several months to recoup. Building a mining rig doesn't end with purchasing the equipment and setting up the necessary programs.

How much does an open-pit mine cost? ›

1. Mining Costs: - Open-Pit Mining: Open-pit mining is a relatively low-cost mining method where the ore is extracted from the surface. The costs typically range from $2 to $10 per ton of ore.

How long does it take to mine $1 of Bitcoin? ›

To answer the central question in mind, it takes an average of 10 minutes to mine not just 1 Bitcoin but 3 — and that rate will fluctuate over time.

Can I mine Bitcoin for free? ›

While it's possible to mine Bitcoin without investing any money, it's important to understand that mining Bitcoin requires specialized hardware and significant amounts of computing power and energy.

What is the easiest crypto to start mining? ›

9 Best Cryptocurrencies for Mining (Easy to Hard)
CryptocurrencyMining rewards per blockDifficulty
Ravencoin (RVN)2,500 RVNEasy
Vertcoin (VTC)12.5 VTC/blockEasy
Dash (DASH)2.3097 DASHEasy/Medium
Ethereum Classic (ETC)2.5 ETCEasy/Medium
5 more rows

Are USB bitcoin miners worth it? ›

USB Bitcoin miners do not have the computational capacity to effectively mine or even generate any profit as of November 2023, so they are not worth it if you want to mine for income. If you want to participate in the network and learn more about it, they can be a good purchase, albeit an expensive one.

Is solo mining worth it? ›

In conclusion, we can say that Solo mining is a viable option for users with sufficient capital, as it allows them to find blocks faster and easier. However, cryptocurrencies with high values may not yield significant returns quickly. Even with low complex hash rates, it may take years to make a significant profit.

What is the easiest Bitcoin mining app? ›

10 Best Bitcoin Mining Apps
  • 1) StormGain. StormGain, a cryptocurrency trading and mining platform, offers seamless digital currency investment opportunities. ...
  • 2) ECOS. ...
  • 3) Kryptex. ...
  • 4) Binance. ...
  • 5) Hashing24. ...
  • 6) Hashshiny. ...
  • 7) BetterHash. ...
  • 8) NiceHash.
Apr 9, 2024

What is a process in process mining? ›

Process mining is a method of applying specialized algorithms to event log data to identify trends, patterns and details of how a process unfolds. Process mining applies data science to discover, validate and improve workflows.

What is the first step in process mining? ›

Process Discovery: The first step in process mining. The main goal of process discovery is to transform the event log into a process model. An event log can come from any data storage system that records the activities in an organisation along with the timestamps for those activities.

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