Mining - Ore, Ice and Gas

This page hopes to provide a beginners level understanding of Ore, Ice and Gas Mining.

General Overview

Mining is one of the primary resource-gathering activities in New Eden, providing the raw materials required for ship production, industry, and economic growth. Mining serves as a valuable support activity—generating ISK, supplying materials, and offering a more relaxed alternative to PvP fleets.

There are three primary types of mining:

  • Ore Mining – Standard minerals used in most manufacturing
  • Ice Mining – Fuel components for structures and capital ships
  • Gas Harvesting – Materials used in advanced reactions and production

Mining activities can be found across nearly all areas of New Eden—from the relative safety of high-security space to the more dangerous regions of low-sec, null-sec, and wormholes. The type of resources available, as well as the level of risk, will vary depending on location.

Mining offers several key benefits:

  • Reliable ISK generation with relatively low barrier to entry
  • Essential materials for shipbuilding, fueling structures, and industry
  • Scalable gameplay, from solo mining to full fleet operations
  • Flexible intensity, allowing for both active and more relaxed playstyles

While mining can be straightforward, efficiency and survival depend heavily on awareness and preparation.

General Tips & Best Practices

  • Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in low/null-security space or wormholes
  • Use directional scan (D-Scan) to monitor for potential threats
  • Mine within your means—don’t risk ships you can’t afford to lose
  • Consider mining in groups for increased efficiency and protection
  • Be mindful of your cargo capacity and plan for hauling or drop-offs

Mining Mechanics (Basic Overview)
At its core, mining is a simple and repeatable process:

  • Fit your ship with mining modules
  • Target a resource (asteroid, ice, or gas cloud)
  • Activate your mining equipment

Each module runs in cycles, depositing resources directly into your cargo or mining hold at the end of each cycle. Mining will continue automatically until:

  • Your hold is full, or
  • The resource is depleted

Positioning matters—stay within range of your target, or you’ll waste cycles with no yield.

If using mining drones, they will:

  • Fly to the target
  • Mine for a cycle
  • Return to deposit resources
  • Repeat automatically

To maximize efficiency, stay close to your target to reduce drone travel time.

Once your hold is full, unload at a station, structure, or fleet support ship, then return and continue mining.

 

Efficiency & Yield
Mining isn’t just about running lasers—there are ways to improve your output.

Occasionally, mining modules will trigger a critical yield, providing a bonus amount of resources for that cycle. These bonuses:

  • Increase total yield
  • Do not reduce the remaining resource

Your efficiency can be improved through:

  • Skills that increase yield and efficiency
  • Fleet boosts (such as Mining Foreman Bursts)
  • Specialized modules and upgrades

Mining Mechanics (Basic Overview)
Most mining ships include a built-in resource scanner that helps identify the best targets nearby.

  • Activating a scan highlights nearby resources
  • Visual indicators show relative value and quality
  • Allows you to prioritize higher-value targets quickly

Regular scanning helps avoid wasting time on low-value or nearly depleted resources.

Compression

Raw materials take up significant cargo space, which limits efficiency over time.

Compression allows you to convert raw materials into a smaller volume, enabling:

  • Longer mining sessions
  • Easier hauling
  • More efficient fleet logistics

Compression can be done:

  • At structures with reprocessing services
  • Via fleet support ships equipped with compression modules

Ore

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Ice

Gas

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