Mining: Difference between revisions

=Required Materials= <!--T:2-->

To begin mining, a player needs two specialized tools, the {{ll|pickaxe|pickaxe}} and the {{ll|prospecting pick|prospecting pick}}. An optional item is a {{ll|containers#portable containers|mining bag}}, which has 10 available inventory slots and holds ores.  

While the pickaxe is needed to actually harvest stone and ores, the prospecting pick is used to find them, but cannot harvest ores on it's own, as blocks broken by the propick do not drop anything.

=Obtaining Metal Ores Prior to Mining= <!--T:3-->

''Herein lies the conundrum.'' The tools required for mining must be made from {{ll|metal|metal}} by {{ll|casting|casting}}, but the materials that players require ''to create'' metal tools can only be ''harvested'' when using metal tools! There are two methods available to collect enough smeltable ore nuggets (5 units of base metal) to create a pickaxe without mining.

==Foraging== <!--T:4-->

Small stones containing ores appear on the surface of the world and are a good early game source of metal nuggets. To gather surface deposits, break the ore containing stones with an empty hand or any item to convert the stones into smeltable ore nuggets and collect in your inventory. These small surface deposits are an indicator of larger underground ore deposits. (Be sure to add a waypoint to mark the location for later mining operations.) Sometimes nuggets can be found in {{ll|Loot Vessels|loot vessels}} located in {{ll|ruins|ruins}}.

==Panning== <!--T:5-->

Copper nuggets can also be obtained by panning. See the {{ll|panning|panning}} guide for more information.

=Obtaining Metal Ores by Mining= <!--T:6-->

When {{ll|rock|rock}} blocks are broken using a {{ll|pickaxe|pickaxe}}, rock, small stones or ores contained in chunks of stone will be dropped. The challenge is in finding the ore-containing rocks.  As of game version 1.9, certain ore types only spawn in certain {{ll|rock|rock}} types. To determine which ores can occur in a rock type, examine a block, hold {{Keypress|Shift}}+{{Keypress|H}}, and the handbook will provide information about what ores can appear in that {{ll|rock|rock}} type. For more information about natural deposits and ore generation, see the {{ll|Ore Deposits|Ore Deposits}} page.

==Choosing a Location== <!--T:7-->

There are two general methods used to choose a location "Exploration" and "Prospecting". These are not mutually exclusive and work very well when combined. Players can prospect to find a region with the desired ore, and then explore caves within that region to find exposed ore to mine.

==Exploration (Random Method)== <!--T:8-->

Explore the map to locate regions with rock types used in crafting (chalk, limestone) and rock types that are known to generate ores used in crafting tools, weapons, and metal items. Sometimes ores can be located by exploring caves with entrances exposed to the surface of the world.  When exploring caves, it's a good idea to bring ladders to provide a way to climb up or down shafts, and lots of torches to light the cave and mark a path back out. The possibility for "Adventure" exists in every cave, so be ready to face great danger, but also to reap great rewards.   

===Caving Rewards=== <!--T:9-->

A benefit of exploring caves is that even if ores aren't present, players may locate underground {{ll|ruins|ruins}}, which often contain treasures and materials that a player cannot acquire any other way. Static Translocators also exist in caves. These machines can be used to transport the player into uncharted regions of the world.   

===Caving Dangers=== <!--T:10-->

*'''{{ll|Locust|Locusts}}''' are a dangerous mob that spawns in caves and caverns.

*'''{{ll|Drifters|Drifters}}''' that are tougher than those encountered on the surface also exist.

==Prospecting (Systematic Method)== <!--T:11-->

Mining at locations marked by small surface deposits can be a good way to find ores, but not all ores in a region will spawn in surface stones. To find deeper ores, use the {{ll|prospecting pick|prospecting pick}} or "propick". Prospecting can be performed on the surface before choosing to mine in an area, and help players decide which regions are worthwhile to mine based on the ores present in the chunk.

===Density Search Mode=== <!--T:25-->

This is the first mode of the propick ({{Keypress|F}} key), which is by default always enabled. It is a chance based search system with long range - specifically, it shows the chance for specific ores to be present in a searched chunk (32x32 blocks, but all the way from surface to mantle).

====Prospecting Process==== <!--T:12-->

To prospect, a player must break 3 {{ll|rock|rock}} blocks in 'close' proximity to "sample" the area for ores. These blocks must be located a '''minimum''' of 3 blocks apart (blocks '''between''' samples) and a maximum of 16 blocks apart. It is possible to sample three blocks within a square, or in a line where the last sample is 8 blocks away from the first sample. Upon breaking the third valid sample block, displays the densities of all the ores in the chat window based on the chunk that the '''first''' of the three blocks prospected (broken) was located in.

====Prospecting Results==== <!--T:14-->

To interpret the information, one must understand that this mode ''does not detect the actual presence of ore blocks'', but detects the ''chance that ores are present''. The game uses randomly generated ore density maps whenever a chunk is generated. These determine the chance for ores to appear. Even if a player removed all the ores from a chunk, the prospecting reading would remain the same. Additionally, some ores are not detected by prospecting with this mode, like  quartz or surface copper.

====Prospecting for Ore Fields==== <!--T:18-->

Prospecting results should be similar for 4 chunks in an area because the ore densities are created from a density map generated with the world, at a resolution of approximately 32 blocks. The ore densities will tend to have a more concentrated 'center' and then decrease when moving towards the circumference. So when locating a low density reading of any desired ore, try taking other prospecting samples some distance away in other directions to find an area with a higher reading. With enough sampling, a player can locate the center of the ore field, which often span a great many chunks.   

===Node Search Mode=== <!--T:26-->

This is the second mode of the propick, which can be activated with {{Keypress|F}}. It offers a short to medium range search for exact and actually available deposits in a specific place.

Be aware however, using this mode will drain the tools durability considerably faster. Additionally, it also doesn't pick up on Halite - don't be too salty now :p

====Activating Node Search Mode==== <!--T:27-->

Since v1.18, this second mode is enabled by default when creating a new world. You can disable it or modify its radius in the advanced settings ("Customize" button) - in the middle of the list, the option "ProPick Node Search Radius" lets you switch between disabled or, if you want to use it, for what size you want it to work.  

The radius you select here describes the size of the cubic search area, for instance the radius 4 equals a search area of 9x9x9 blocks, 729 blocks searched in total.

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====Prospecting Process==== <!--T:32-->

Similar to the density search, you will have to break a stone block with the propick, however you will only have to break one block and will get the results immediately listed in the information tab of the chat. The readings will be shown for the search area, with the broken block as the centre. Note: Does not work on cracked rock blocks.

====Prospecting Written Guide==== <!--T:49-->

[https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageStory/comments/pxfroz/comment/heneg20/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 This reddit post] is a wonderfully written guide from the user Streetwind on how to start prospecting if you are completely new to prospecting in general. It clearly explains how to begin prospecting, what to bring with your first expedition, and how exactly you figure out where to dig down.  

====Prospecting Results==== <!--T:33-->

You will only be informed about actually occurring deposits in the searched area. If there are no ores in the searched cubicle, the chat will display the "no ore node nearby" message.

If any deposits are found, the amount of blocks containing that ore is displayed again in words rather than actual numbers.

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==Mining Products== <!--T:20-->

Smeltable nuggets do not drop from rocks when mined. Instead, ores contained in chunks of stone will be dropped.  When mining, inventory space is generally at a premium, and these chunks occupy less space than "smeltable nuggets".

Ores within rock must be crushed with a hammer in the crafting grid to obtain smeltable nuggets. "Rich" chunks have a higher concentration of ore and will generate more nuggets when crushed, so be sure to create smithy {{ll|containers#stationary containers|storage containers}} to store the ores!

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==Purchasing== <!--T:38-->

You can purchase halite from aː

* {{ll|Trading#Commodities|Commodities Trader}} for an average price of 3 {{ll|Rusty gear|rusty gears}} for a stack of 16.