¶ Mining
Welcome to the ultimate guide hub for mining in Elite Dangerous. Learn about the best mining techniques, locations, and equipment to maximize your profits.
¶ Overview
Mining in Elite Dangerous is a profitable profession that involves extracting valuable materials from asteroids. Whether you're mining for credits or engineering materials, this guide covers all aspects of mining.
¶ Guides
- Getting Started with Mining - Learn the basics of mining, from ship selection to refining materials.
- Essential Mining Equipment - Discover the best mining lasers, refinery modules, and limpets.
- Best Mining Locations - Find high-value mining sites and hotspots.
- Advanced Mining Techniques - Optimize your yield with core mining and laser mining.
- Selling Your Ores - Learn where and how to sell your mined materials for maximum profit.
¶ Mining Essentials
¶ Mining Gear
- ✅ Prospector & Collector Limpets – Identify and collect fragments efficiently.
- ✅ Mining Lasers – Extract resources from standard asteroids.
- ✅ Refinery Module – Process collected fragments into marketable materials.
- ✅ Cargo Space – The more, the better for maximizing profit per run.
- ✅ Detailed Surface Scanner & Wave Scanner – Locate high-value deposits.
- ✅ Abrasive Blaster & Displacement Missiles – Extract surface and sub-surface minerals.
- ✅ Seismic Charges – Crack open the richest asteroids for deep-core mining.
- ✅ Powerful Lights & Night Vision – Essential for navigating dark asteroid fields.
¶ Mining Strategies
- 🚢 Use a Large Freighter: Bigger ships carry more cargo, store extra limpets, and handle mining operations efficiently. Materials are stored separately from cargo, so you won’t lose them if your ship is destroyed.
- 💎 Know What to Mine: Focus on high-value resources to maximize earnings and reduce wasted time.
- 🌌 Jump Range vs. Mining Efficiency: You don’t need an extreme jump range—15-20LY is sufficient. Instead, prioritize mining speed, collection efficiency, and a well-suited refinery for your playstyle.
- 🛡 Defense Against Pirates: If you choose to fight back, use turrets on slow ships and guided weapons on agile ships. However, pirates can be deadly, so sometimes the best defense is simply running away.
¶ Tools and Resources
Utilize these tools to enhance your mining efficiency:
- Inara Market Data - Find the best stations to sell your mined resources.
- EDDB Mining Locations - Locate the best systems for mining.
- Spansh Mining Route Planner - Plan your mining and selling routes efficiently.
- EliteBGS Mining Tracker - Monitor market demands and faction economy.
Have questions or insights? Join the discussion on Discord.