Mining in high-security space (0.5 – 1.0 systems) is the most accessible way to start earning ISK in EVE Online. While it’s relatively safe compared to low/null security space, it still comes with risks and opportunities. This guide covers ships, fittings, skills, strategies, and ways to stay safe and profitable.
1. 📍 What is High-Sec Mining?
- Mining ore from asteroid belts, moons, ice belts or anomalies in systems with CONCORD protection (0.5 – 1.0).
- Safer than low/null/wormhole mining, but ganking by other players is still a risk.
- Typically focused on Veldspar, Scordite, Pyroxeres, and Plagioclase, though ice, moon and anomaly belts exist in some constellations.
2. ⛏️ Ships for High-Sec Mining
Beginner
- Venture (free via career missions)
- Bonuses to gas & ore mining.
- Built-in warp core strength (harder to gank).
- Great for solo miners and new players.
Intermediate
- Procurer (mining barge, tanky option)
- High EHP, good defense vs gankers.
- Smaller ore hold than others, but safer.
- Retriever (large ore hold)
- Best for solo AFK-ish mining.
- Weak tank, common gank target.
Advanced
- Skiff (exhumer, tanky upgrade to Procurer).
- Mackinaw (exhumer, upgrade to Retriever).
- Orca (fleet support, massive ore hold, mining boosts).
- Rorqual (not usable in high-sec).
3. ⚖️ Asteroid vs. Ice vs. Moon Mining
| Feature | Asteroid Belts | Ice Belts | Moon Mining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ore Value | Low → Moderate | Moderate → High (fuel block demand) | High (per m³ vs belts) |
| Ship Investment | Venture → Barge → Exhumer | Same | Same + Corp structure needed |
| ISK/hour (solo) | 3–25m | 20–30m | 20–30m (field) |
| ISK/month (corp) | N/A | N/A | 600m–2.5b (depending on moon) |
| Risks | Ganking | Ganking | Structure costs, wars, ganking |
| Best For | Beginners, casual miners | Industrialists, fuel producers | Organized corps, semi-passive ISK |
4. 📖 Skills to Train
- Mining (core skill for yield).
- Astrogeology (boosts yield).
- Mining Upgrades (use better modules).
- Drones + Mining Drone Specialization (extra yield).
- Shield Management / Hull Upgrades (for survival).
- Spaceship Command skills (for barges/exhumers).
Optional but useful:
- Reprocessing (to refine ore more efficiently).
- Leadership (Mining Foreman) (if boosting others).
5. 💰 Where to Mine
- High-Sec Belts: Common ores, low competition.
- Moon belts: Ubiquitous ores, need a corp with stations
- Ice Belts: Appear in certain constellations; used for fuel production.
- Ore anomalies: Use the agency app within the game to find
- Mining Missions: Provide ores in deadspace pockets.
- Resource Wars Sites: Group PvE mining with NPC protection (less popular, but safe).
🔑 Tip: Use 0.5 systems for higher ore value, but beware — they’re riskier for ganks than 1.0 systems.
6. 🛡️ Staying Safe
- Never go AFK in a Retriever — you will get ganked.
- Always fit shield tank, even in 1.0 space.
- Use d-scan and watch local chat for gankers.
- Avoid trade hub systems (like Jita, Amarr) — gankers patrol mining belts there.
- If mining in a group, have an Orca for boosts and defense drones.
7. 📦 Selling & Making ISK
- Sell raw ore: Quick ISK, often in mining hubs.
- Refine ore: More ISK if your refining skills are high.
- Manufacture: Turn minerals into ships/modules for long-term profit.
- Haul smart: Don’t carry billions of ISK in ore in an untanked hauler — gankers love easy kills.
8. 🛠️ Next Steps
- Move into Ice Mining for better profits.
- Train for Orca boosts and run fleets.
- Try null-sec or wormhole mining (huge profits, much higher risks).
- Expand into industry (building ships with your mined minerals).
✅ Summary:
High-sec mining is a safe and steady ISK source, ideal for beginners and casual players. Start with a Venture, move up to a Procurer or Retriever, and eventually graduate to Exhumers or Orca fleet support. Always balance profit vs. safety, and never forget: in EVE, if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t undock it.