Mining

So you want to be a Miner? Great! Mining is a Profession almost any Town will need. It will be your job to supply the Town with precious Ore and other minerals it needs to complete Repairing projects, and Craft more powerful tools and weapons. It is also one of the easier professions to get started in, just pick up a Pickaxe and go hit an Ore Vein! In this guide we'll be going over the basics of mining, and how to get started as a Miner.

Getting Started
To get started in Mining all you really need is a Pickaxe. Rusty Pickaxes can occasionally be found lying around the town when you first arrive, or if they have all been claimed you can get started with just a piece of Flint. If you do decide to use Flint however, it is recommended that you attach it to a Stick for ease of use to create a Primitive Pickaxe. Attaching it to the side (as opposed to the tip) will work better for mining, unless you're a big fan of stabbing ore head on.

Once you have obtained your tool, your next job is to find something to mine! In the Overworld you're able to find Sandstone around the town on occasion, and in the Quarry you can find Ore Vein of Copper, Iron, as well as Coal and more Sandstone. Approach your chosen vein, and hit it with your pickaxe. Generally larger swings work better than smaller ones, so don't be afraid to really swing at it. After a number of hits the vein should break up and bits of Ore will fall to the ground for you to pick up. Congratulations! You've obtained your first load as a Miner!

Impact, Hardness and Ores
Not all Pickaxes can mine all Ore Veins. The Metal that your Pickaxe is made out of defines what it is able to break. The breaking force of the Metal is referred to as Impact, while the strength of the ore vein is referred to as Hardness. You need a Pickaxe made of a material with an Impact that is equal to or greater than the Hardness of the Ore Vein you are trying to break. So if you hit an Ore Vein that then makes a dull ping noise, you'll need to upgrade your pickaxe. As a further note, Dynamite cannot affect Silver and Mythril.

The Mines
A majority of a Miners job is not done in the Overworld however. The Mines contain much more valuable Ores, Loot and other resources. Most of the mines are pitch black however, so a Torch is essential. To create a Torch, attach some Dried Grass to a Stick, then light it on Fire. Be sure to keep an eye on your torch; they do burn out!

The Mines are also filled with dangerous Creatures. Be sure to watch your back down there.

What to do with your ores
Once you've collected Ores, be sure to drop them off at the Blacksmiths building. With the Ores, they'll be able to make new tools and Weapons there!