🛠️ EVE Online: How to Mine – Beginner’s Guide (2025)
Mining in EVE Online is one of the most accessible and consistent ways to make ISK. Whether you’re an Alpha or Omega clone, this guide walks you through the process—from ship selection to ore sales.
🚀 1. What is Mining?
Mining is the act of extracting ore from asteroid belts, moons, or ice fields. You then refine ore into minerals or sell it directly for ISK.
🧑🏫 2. Essential Skills to Train
- Mining I (basic mining lasers)
- Astrogeology I+ (increases yield)
- Mining Upgrades (allows mining efficiency modules)
- Drone Interfacing & Mining Drone Operation (for drone support)
- Refining / Reprocessing (for turning ore into minerals)
View the mining skill plan page for more information
Omega clones get access to advanced ships, modules, and higher skill levels—but Alpha players can mine efficiently in high-sec too.
🛠️ 3. Recommended Mining Ships
✨ Beginner (Alpha Friendly)
- Venture (Frigate): Free from tutorials; built-in ore hold and mining bonuses.
- Endurance (T2 Ice Miner): For specialized ice mining (Omega only).
🛢️ Intermediate Barges (Omega Only)
- Procurer: Tough, good for dangerous areas.
- Retriever: Large ore hold, best for solo mining.
- Covetor: High yield, needs frequent unloading.
🚛 Advanced (Omega)
- Skiff, Hulk, Mackinaw (Tech 2 Barges): High skill requirement, efficient.
- Orca (Command Ship): Fleet booster + mining support.
- Rorqual (Capital Mining Ship): Nullsec only, extreme output and risk.
🔍 4. Where to Mine
Use the in-game Overview to locate:
- Asteroid Belts (standard ores like Veldspar, Scordite)
- Ore Anomalies (found via the Probe Scanner; richer ores)
- Ice Belts (for ice mining)
- Moon Mining Sites (corporation-controlled; advanced)
📊 Ore by Security Level:
| Sec Level | Common Ores |
|---|---|
| High (0.5–1.0) | Veldspar, Scordite, Pyroxeres |
| Low (0.1–0.4) | Kernite, Jaspet, Hemorphite |
| Null (0.0) | Arkonor, Bistot, Mercoxit |
⛏️ 5. Mining Process Step-by-Step
📦 Step 1: Fit Your Ship
- Mining Lasers / Strip Miners
- Mining Laser Upgrade (MLU) modules
- Shield/armor tank or warp stabilizers
- Optional: Mining Drones
🛸 Step 2: Undock & Find Asteroids
- Open Overview → Warp to a belt/anomaly.
- Right-click asteroid → Lock target.
- Activate mining lasers.
📥 Step 3: Manage Ore Hold
- When full, return to station or use a jet can (right-click → jettison).
- Venture has a separate Ore Hold—don’t confuse it with Cargo.
🧾 Step 4: Sell or Refine
- Dock at a station with refining.
- Choose Reprocess or Sell (check market prices).
🧪 6. Refining vs Selling Raw Ore
- Refining: Get minerals (e.g., Tritanium, Pyerite).
- Requires skills and good refinery standings.
- Selling Ore: Simpler, often better for beginners.
🛡️ 7. Safety While Mining
⚠️ Avoid These Mistakes:
- AFK mining in low/null/wormhole space
- Mining in mission pockets without watching Local chat
- Ignoring gankers—especially in high-sec with low tank ships
🛡️ Tips:
- Use D-scan in low/null.
- Stay aligned to a celestial for fast escape.
- Warp core stabilizers help escape scrams (but reduce targeting).
🧊 9. Advanced Mining Paths
- Ice Mining – Needed for fuel; Omega and special modules required.
- Moon Mining – Corporation-based with Refineries.
- Gas Harvesting – Used in booster and T3 production.
- Fleet Mining – Join or lead ops for group efficiency and safety.
🧠 10. Quick Tips for Profitable Mining
Always check the market value of what you’re mining.
Don’t mine just Veldspar unless close to Jita.
Look for Ore Anomalies in quieter systems.
Fit Survey Scanners to check asteroid content.
Avoid high-traffic belts and mine during off-peak hours.