Guide to Mining
Departmental Head
Quartermaster
Quartermaster • | Miner • | Explorer • | Cargo Tech |
Departmental Head
Current Lawset
AI Modules • | Construction • | Medical • | Surgery • | Engineering • | Robotics • | Mining • | Chain of Command |
Clocking In
At the beginning of your shift, you'll find you and your fellow miners in the Mining Dock. Make sure to grab your equipment and head onto the mining shuttle. If it's your first time mining, it's always a good idea to grab a buddy. Lavaland can be pretty unforgiving to the unexperienced!
Equipment
Survival Medipen An emergency autoinjector for miners facing the harsh conditions of Lavaland. WARNING: Do not inject more than one in quick succession.
Mining Satchel A satchel which will automatically collect ores if set on your belt slot, in one of your hands, or in a pocket. Use the satchel in your hand to dump the ores.
Mining Voucher A single use voucher, used to buy a starting item at the Mining Equipment Vendor.
Seclite This seclite is attachable to guns such as the Proto-Kinetic Accelerator.
Survival Knife Attaches to a Proto-Kinetic Accelerator to act as a bayonet. You can remove it again with a screwdriver.
Marker Beacon You get 10 of these initially. Use them in your hand to set down a small light source where you're standing.
Items Available in the Lockers
Proto-Kinetic Accelerator
The Proto-Kinetic Accelerator is a prototype mining tool/weapon. It uses bursts of energy to create a kinetic blast at the location it is aimed at. However, in order for the kinetic blast to have any effect, it needs to be in a very low pressure environment. In lower pressure environments the blast can mine rock quickly, kill animals, and even break the bones of other people.
On it's own, the PKA is a formidable tool, however you can bolster it with upgrades.
Proto-Kinetic Accelerator Upgrades
Kinetic Crusher
The Kinetic Crusher is a more manual means of mining and fighting. You can smash things with large amounts of kinetic force from short range. Additionally, you can mark mobs from a distance and then hit them close up to deal larger amounts of damage. Killing mobs in Lavaland with the crusher will allow you to unlock crusher trophies that can upgrade your kinetic crusher.
Crusher Trophies
Resonator
A handheld device that creates small fields of energy that resonate until they detonate, crushing rock. It can also be activated without a target to create a field at the user's location, to act as a delayed time trap. It's more effective in a vaccuum.
This is another form of mining equipment that is commonly used by Free Golems. It is only aquirable from the golem shuttle or by purchasing it from the mining vendor. The default resonator is not a powerful device, instead the super resonator should be used instead. It can create unlimited fields at once and mines quicker.
Mining Vendor
There is a mining vendor located in the Mining Dock as well as on the Mining Base. After dropping off your ore into the ORM, you can receive mining points. These mining points can be spent on a variety of items that are available in the mining vendor. They can range from comfort items such as space cash or even valuable items such as jetpacks.
Item | Cost | Description |
Advanced Scanner |
800 | A scanner that automatically checks surrounding rock for useful minerals; it can also be used to stop gibtonite detonations. Wear meson scanners for optimal results. This one has an extended range. |
---|---|---|
Explorer's Webbing |
500 | Used to hold shelter capsules, medipens, and marker beacons. |
Fulton Beacon |
400 | When placed down, can be targeted by a Fulton Extraction Pack. |
Mining Conscription Kit |
1500 | Everything in the Mining Conscription kit, available for only 1500 mining points |
Advanced Jetpack Module |
2000 | Use this on a MODsuit to install it with a jetpack; allowing you to control your flight if you end up in the void of space. It uses the MODsuit's charge in order to function. Learn how to install modules into your suit here. |
Jump Boots |
2500 | Allows you to dash forward 5 tiles; meaning you can clear a 4-tile gap. Presumably helpful for jumping over chasms. Can be used to store a knife inside. |
Lazarus Capsule |
800 | Use it on creatures revived by a lazarus injector to capture them and register them as yours. You can then release them, and they will fight hostile mobs for you. |
Lazarus Capsule Belt |
200 | Stores lazarus capsules. You can hold six. |
Mining MODsuit |
3500 | A Nanotrasen mining suit for on-site operations, fit with accreting ash armor, a built in ore bag and a sphere form. You equip it on your backpack slot, deploy the parts and then activate it. Learn more about MODsuits here. |
Asteroid MODsuit Skin |
1000 | Apply to your Mining MODsuit to make it space proof. Learn more about MODsuits here. |
Tracking Implant Kit |
600 | Contains 3 tracking implants; an implanter; an implant modifier, and an implant locator. |
Mining Charge Detonator File:Detonator.png |
150 | Use it on a mining charge to link it. Linked mining charges start their detonation timer only when you use the detonator. |
Mining
When you're geared up and ready to go, head to the airlocks to your west. Buckle up, then use the Mining Shuttle Console and send the shuttle to the lavaland mine.
If you head down and west from where you dock, there is a break room should your character get hungry. There is also a small medical bay in case you get injured, and then a storage room with five more lockers and an equipment vendor for additional miners.
Once the shuttle docks, head straight east. You'll immediately see the EVA equipment room.
- Equip an explorer suit, an explorer breath mask and take a GPS from the suit storage units. GPS can come handy should any kind of accident happen to you. If you click on it while it is in your hands, you can set your own tag. Make sure to put the hood up on your suit to protect yourself from the scorching heat of Lavaland.
- Dispense an Oxygen Tank from the Tank Storage Unit.
- Grab an Ore Box from anywhere on the station and pull it after you (with control-click). You'll be emptying your mining satchel into it frequently, as the satchel itself can't hold much.
Working in the Mines
To mine a rock, click it with your Proto-Kinetic Accelerator or with a pickaxe in your hands. You can mine multiple tiles at once with the pickaxe. If you use the shovel or the pickaxe on the ground, you will mine Volcanic Ash/Sand, which is needed to make glass. Keep this in mind, as Robotics and R&D use a boatload of it over time, and they will very likely start screaming at you to get some if they need it.
Keep the satchel in your pocket and walk over the ores to collect them. If the satchel is full, empty it into the ore box you are dragging with you.
The Ore Redemption Machine (ORM)
The ORM is what turns your ores into sheets, making them usable by Engineers, Roboticists, Scientists, and whoever else gets access to it.
Whenever you are done with mining, return to the Cargo Office. The ORM is in the northeast room. Place the ore box right above it, right click the ore box and empty it. Then swipe your ID card and claim your points. These are the points you can use at the #Mining Equipment Vendor.
Surviving The Wastes
Lavaland will kill you if you do not tread carefully. Your PKA or Crusher will be your best friend in keeping you alive for the most part. The general rule of thumb is to keep distance and avoid getting hit by fauna. If you do not think you can take a mob on, it is best to leave it alone and go find somewhere else to mine. The atmosphere on Lavaland is burning hot as well, so you need to put on full protective gear, such as an explorer suit or a MODsuit and to keep your hood on.
Make sure to utilize your emergency injector and possibly invest in a brute medkit/fulton extraction kit for when you inevitably take serious brute damage. Always keep an active GPS on your body incase you die. Communication is also a key here - letting your fellow miners know that you are going down increases chances of being found dramatically.
If you encounter an ash storm(which you will), it's imperative that you throw down a bluespace shelter or find a place to shelter under before the storm comes. Chances are if you don't, you will not survive for very long.
If you want to learn more about the horrors that await you in lavaland, see the Guide to Lavaland.
You and R&D
One of your biggest partners in your and stations success is Research and Development. They require all the ores you can mine on lavaland and can use said materials to produce awesome items. They will rely on you to provide materials so make sure to at least take up 1-2 loads of ore before messing around and dying.
R&D can provide your KPA with upgrades for free and also give you upgraded mining satchels and equipment. Robotics may even be able to supply you with a Ripley APLU mech that is impervious to ash storms and can instantly mine out 1x3 areas of rock. (Note: Firefighter APLU are Lavaproof)