Mining

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Mining
Mining icon.png
Released 4 January 2001 (Update)
Also called Mine
Members No
Type Gathering
Statistics
Players with
99
84,512
as of 1 September 2023 - update
Players with
200M XP
139
as of 27 September 2023 - update
Mining icon (detail).png

Mining is a skill that allows players to obtain ores and gems from rocks. The higher a player's Mining level is the more likely they are to successfully extract ore. With ores, a player can then either smelt bars and make equipment using the Smithing skill or sell them for profit. Mining is one of the most popular skills in RuneScape as many players try to earn a profit from the skill. Mining areas are identified with a regular pickaxe Mining site icon.png icon, and mining shops are identified with a gold pickaxe Mining shop icon.png icon on the minimap and world map.

Audio options icon.png
Mining level up - normal
The music that plays when levelling up.
Audio options icon.png
Mining level up - with unlocks
The music that plays when levelling up and unlocking new content.

How to mine[edit | edit source]

A player using a rune pickaxe to mine ores.

The player can click on rocks in a mine to mine them, as long as they are wielding a pickaxe or have one in their inventory. After mining for a short amount of time, the player will obtain an ore or a gemstone, depending on the rock mined. Ores can be used for Smithing, and gemstones for Crafting. Rocks cannot be mined with a full inventory.

Every mining cycle, there is a chance to succeed and obtain an ore. Using a higher-tier pickaxe can increase mining speed by reducing the time to the next mining cycle. The chance of success each cycle varies by ore and increases with the player's mining level.

Pickaxes[edit | edit source]

Pickaxes, or "picks," are needed to mine rocks. They can be equipped as a weapon, giving players one extra space in their inventory. However, pickaxes cannot be made using the Smithing skill. Pickaxes can be bought from either Nurmof in the Dwarven Mine or Tati in Keldagrim, or from other players. Nurmof's Pickaxe Shop in the Dwarven Mine is labelled on the minimap as a gold pickaxe.

A player's Mining level determines the type of pickaxe they can mine with. Higher level pickaxes grant more frequent opportunities to obtain an ore from a rock, but have no effect upon the chance of successfully doing so.[1]

Pickaxe Mining Level Attack Level[p 1] GE Price Members
Bronze pickaxe.png Bronze pickaxe 1 1 40 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Iron pickaxe.png Iron pickaxe 1 1 261 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Steel pickaxe.png Steel pickaxe 6 5 772 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Black pickaxe.png Black pickaxe 11 10 1,371 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Mithril pickaxe.png Mithril pickaxe 21 20 290 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Adamant pickaxe.png Adamant pickaxe 31 30 1,528 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Rune pickaxe.png Rune pickaxe 41 40 18,595 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Dragon pickaxe.png Dragon pickaxe 61 60 1,700,298 1
Member icon.png
Infernal pickaxe.png Infernal pickaxe[p 2] 61 60 7,629,811[p 3] 1
Member icon.png
3rd age pickaxe.png 3rd age pickaxe 61 65 2,147,483,647 1
Member icon.png
Crystal pickaxe.png Crystal pickaxe[p 4] 71 70[p 5] 17,787,944[p 6] 1
Member icon.png
  1. ^ The listed Attack levels are only required to wield the pickaxes, not use them.
  2. ^ The infernal pickaxe also requires 85 Smithing to use.
  3. ^ Listed price is the combined cost of a smouldering stone and a dragon pickaxe.
  4. ^ Requires completion of Song of the Elves to create and use.
  5. ^ The crystal pickaxe has an additional requirement of 50 Agility to wield.
  6. ^ Listed price is the combined cost of a crystal tool seed and a dragon pickaxe, and does not include the value of the crystal shards.

Other equipment[edit | edit source]

Besides the pickaxes discussed above, the following items have some effect on mining:

Mineable items[edit | edit source]

Ores are obtained from the different types of rocks, usually found in mines. On the minimap, mines are labelled with a grey pickaxe. The colour of a rock corresponds to the ore's colour.

When players click on a rock, they will hit it with their pickaxe and try to get the ore out. Higher level rocks such as mithril and adamantite take longer to mine and may require some patience.

After the ore has been mined, the rock will turn grey for a while. Eventually the ore will respawn and the rock will regain its colour. Players can only mine a rock when ore is available. Ore respawn times differ with the difficulty of the rock. For example, runite rocks take 12 minutes to respawn while iron rocks take about three seconds.

Item Mining Mining GE Price Members
Level Exp
Clay.png Clay 1 5 88 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Rune essence.png Rune essence 1 5 9 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Copper ore.png Copper 1 17.5 47 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Tin ore.png Tin 1 17.5 42 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Limestone.png Limestone 10 26.5 188 1
Member icon.png
Stardust 175.png Stardust 10-90 11-168 N/A 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Blurite ore.png Blurite 10 17.5 N/A 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Barronite shards 25.png Barronite 14 16 N/A 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Iron ore.png Iron 15 35 90 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Daeyalt ore.png Daeyalt 20 17.5 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Silver ore.png Silver 20 40 34 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Volcanic ash.png Volcanic ash 22 10 72 1
Member icon.png
Pure essence.png Pure essence 30 5 1 1
Member icon.png
Coal.png Coal 30 50 238 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Pay-dirt.png Pay-dirt 30 60 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Sandstone (10kg).png Sandstone 35 30-60 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Dense essence block.png Dense essence block 38 12 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Uncut red topaz.png Gem rocks 40 65 Varies 1
Member icon.png
Gold ore.png Gold 40 65 202 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Volcanic sulphur.png Volcanic sulphur 42 25 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Blasted ore.png Blasted ore 43 20 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Granite (5kg).png Granite 45 50-75 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Mithril ore.png Mithril 55 80 83 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Lunar ore.png Lunar 60 0 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Daeyalt shard.png Daeyalt shard 60 5 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Lovakite ore.png Lovakite 65 10 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Adamantite ore.png Adamantite 70 95 761 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Soft clay.png Soft clay 70 5 116 1
Member icon.png
Efh salt.png Salts 72 5 N/A 1
Member icon.png
Ancient essence 500.png Ancient essence 75 13.5 31 1
Member icon.png
Runite ore.png Runite 85 125 10,930 0
Free-to-play icon.png
Amethyst.png Amethyst 92 240 3,997 1
Member icon.png

Gems[edit | edit source]

When mining, players have a 1/256 chance of rolling an uncut gem table instead of receiving an ore; this neither depletes the ore nor grants mining experience.[2] Gems that can be found in rocks are uncut sapphires, uncut emeralds, uncut rubies and uncut diamonds.

A player's chances of finding gems are increased to 1/86 when wearing a charged amulet of glory.[3]

Geodes[edit | edit source]

Clue geodes are rare rocks that can be found when mining in place of receiving an ore. Searching them will give players a clue scroll of the same difficulty as the geode given.

Other[edit | edit source]

Mines[edit | edit source]

Mines are areas where players can mine their ores. These may be on the surface or underground and are scattered around Gielinor. Some of these locations are accessible only after certain quests are complete and some are members-only.

Special mining areas and activities[edit | edit source]

Mining Guild[edit | edit source]

The Mining Guild is a special mining area within the dwarven mines, requiring level 60 Mining to enter (can be boosted). While accessible by Free-to-play players, an area of the mine is accessible solely by Members. There are numerous rocks in both sections, with especially large numbers of coal rocks.

Within the members' area of the mining guild, players will receive an invisible +7 level boost to their Mining, and have a chance to receive unidentified minerals while mining, which can be traded in for various mining gloves. It also contains two runite rocks and is the only place players can mine Amethyst. Players also have access to a Bank chest to deposit their ores quickly.

Motherlode Mine[edit | edit source]

The Motherlode Mine, requiring level 30 Mining and found within the dwarven mines, allows players to instead mine Pay-dirt and deposit it into a dwarven machine. When withdrawn, the player receives various random ores attainable at their current mining level. This process also has a chance of rewarding Gold nuggets, used to purchase helpful mining-related items such as the Coal bag, Gem bag, and Prospector outfit, as well as Soft clay packs and Bags full of gems.

Blast mine[edit | edit source]

The Blast mine, requiring level 43 Mining and found within Lovakengj, allows players to collect Blasted ores through the use of Dynamite; the usage of which also rewards a small amount of Firemaking experience. Blasted ores are then deposited to obtain various random ores; the blast mine is unique as players can receive ores that have level requirements up to ten above their current level.

Coal Trucks[edit | edit source]

Coal from the nearby coal rocks can be loaded onto the trucks, and unloaded in Seers' Village, which makes banking more convenient.

Trahaearn mine[edit | edit source]

The rocks in this mine have a chance of yielding crystal shards alongside the ore.

Volcanic mine[edit | edit source]

Players may mine ore fragments from a boulder in a volcanic chamber. This may be performed individually or in groups. In order to successfully mine here, players must maintain the stability of the mine, avoid lava beasts and navigate across pools of lava.

Shooting stars[edit | edit source]

Shooting stars land in random locations every two hours or so. They can be mined for stardust.

Zalcano[edit | edit source]

Zalcano is a skilling boss. In order to defeat her, players must mine tephra, refine it using the Smithing skill, imbue it using the Runecrafting skill, throw it at her and mine her once her armour is damaged enough.

Digsite[edit | edit source]

Various digs at the Digsite yield a variety of cheap or useless items and low amounts of experience. The panning activity yields a variety of inexpensive items (including nuggets, three sets of which can be exchanged for gold ore), and minuscule amounts of mining and fishing experience.

Other uses[edit | edit source]

  • In Castle Wars, players can mine certain parts of the wall underground in order to fill the passageway with rocks. If other players are located under the rocks, they will be instantly killed.
  • In the Chambers of Xeric, the player's mining level and the average mining level of the team affect the damage on Guardians.
  • Several passages are blocked by objects that have to be mined before they can be crossed, such as rocks in the Abyss and the entrance to the Ice Queen's Lair.
  • Mining is used to animate the earth elementals that drop elemental ore. Although no actual mining is involved, a pickaxe that the player has the mining level to use is required.

Tips[edit | edit source]

Power mining[edit | edit source]

Also known as drop mining, this is where a player fills their inventory with ores, drops them all, and repeats. While this method of mining allows players to raise their Mining level quickly, dropping a whole inventory of ores can take some time (although this can be minimised by making use of shift-click dropping). Also, by using this method, a player would be missing out on Smithing experience. Some locations useful for drop mining:

Power-mining iron[edit | edit source]

There are currently nine mines in RuneScape where three iron rocks in a triangular formation can be mined without moving, thus ideal for power levelling. They are as follows:

Mining gloves[edit | edit source]

Members can purchase two different types of Mining Gloves from the Mining Guild Mineral Exchange store in the Mining Guild. Each pair of gloves provide a chance of the rock not depleting, which is very beneficial for players powermining or mining higher tier ores. After purchasing both pairs of gloves, the player can combine the gloves to create Expert mining gloves by talking to Belona.

Item Name Effect
Mining gloves.png Mining gloves Provides a chance for extra ore from silver, coal, and gold
Superior mining gloves.png Superior mining gloves Provides a chance for extra ore from mithril, adamantite, and runite
Expert mining gloves.png Expert mining gloves Provides a chance for extra ore from silver, coal, gold, mithril, adamantite, runite, and amethyst

Reduce total weight[edit | edit source]

Players are recommended to wear few items or nothing at all other than their pickaxe. Members can wear the weight-reducing clothing. Wearing fewer items allows a player to run longer, as less energy is spent while running at lower weight values.

Switch worlds[edit | edit source]

For higher level rocks such as adamantite or runite, it is often faster to switch between worlds rather than waiting for the rocks to respawn. This is not recommended for lower level rocks as they respawn much faster.

Mining pet[edit | edit source]

Rock golem (follower).png

The rock golem is a members-only skilling pet that can be obtained while training Mining. The chances of getting it are dependent on the player's Mining level, and the time it takes to gather a resource.

Temporary boosts[edit | edit source]

Boost Level
increase
Visibility Other info
Mining cape.png Mining cape 1 Visible When the mining cape is equipped, there is a 5% chance of receiving an extra ore while mining ore up to adamantite (with some exceptions).
Braindeath 'rum'.png Braindeath 'rum' 1 Visible Attack Attack - floor(Currentlevel * 0.06) - 1
Defence Defence - floor(Currentlevel * 0.8) - 2
Ranged Ranged - floor(Currentlevel * 0.06) - 1
Magic Magic - floor(Currentlevel * 0.05) - 1
Prayer Prayer - floor(StaticLevel * 0.06) - 1
Agility Agility - floor(Currentlevel * 0.09) - 3
Herblore Herblore - floor(Currentlevel * 0.06) - 1
Dwarven stout.png Dwarven stout 1 Visible Hitpoints Hitpoints 1
Smithing Smithing 1
Attack Attack - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 2
Defence Defence - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 2
Strength Strength - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 2
Is available to free players.
Dwarven stout(m).png Mature dwarven stout 2 Visible Hitpoints Hitpoints 2
Smithing Smithing 2
Attack Attack - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 3
Defence Defence - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 3
Strength Strength - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.04) - 3
Dragon pickaxe.png Dragon pickaxe 3 Visible Uses 100% of Special attack bar. Requires 60 Attack to wield.
Infernal pickaxe.png Infernal pickaxe 3 Visible Uses 100% of Special attack bar. Requires 60 Attack to wield.
3rd age pickaxe.png 3rd age pickaxe 3 Visible Uses 100% of Special attack bar. Requires 65 Attack to wield.
Crystal pickaxe.png Crystal pickaxe 3 Visible Uses 100% of Special attack bar. Requires 70 Attack and 50 Agility to wield.
Celestial ring.png Celestial ring 4 Invisible Boost applies for both the charged and uncharged ring. Does not allow you to mine higher level rocks (e.g. 81 mining does not allow you to mine runite ore).
Celestial signet.png Celestial signet 4 Invisible Boost applies for both the charged and uncharged signet. Does not allow you to mine higher level rocks (e.g. 81 mining does not allow you to mine runite ore).
Spicy stew.png Spicy stew
(brown spice)
±0-5 Visible Hitpoints Hitpoints 11
Depending on type of stew, any skill except Hitpoints can be boosted or reduced by 0 to 5 levels randomly.
Mining icon.png Mining Guild 7 Invisible The boost takes effect while player is within the members-only area of the Mining Guild.

Does not allow you to mine higher level rocks (e.g. 78 mining does not allow you to mine runite ore).

Quests[edit | edit source]

Quests requiring Mining[edit | edit source]

Quest Mining
requirement
Other skill requirements
The Knight's Sword Mining 10 -
Tale of the Righteous Mining 10 Strength 16 , 20% Shayzien favour
In Aid of the Myreque Mining 15 Crafting 25 , Magic 7
The Lost Tribe Mining 17 Agility 13 , Thieving 13
Tears of Guthix Mining 20 Firemaking 49 , Crafting 20
Darkness of Hallowvale Mining 20 Strength 40 , Thieving 22 , Construction 5 , Agility 26 , Crafting 32 , Magic 33
Elemental Workshop I Mining 20 Smithing 20 , Crafting 20
Spirits of the Elid Mining 37 Thieving 37 , Magic 33 , Ranged 37
Between a Rock... Mining 40 Defence 30 , Smithing 50
Family Crest Mining 40 Magic 59 , Smithing 40 , Crafting 40
Watchtower Mining 40 Magic 15 , Thieving 15 , Agility 25 , Herblore 14
A Kingdom Divided Mining 42 Agility 54 , Thieving 52 , Woodcutting 52 , Herblore 50 , Crafting 38 , Magic 35
Heroes' Quest Mining 50 Quest points 55 , Cooking 53 , Fishing 53 , Herblore 25
Legends' Quest Mining 52 Agility 50 , Crafting 50 , Herblore 45 , Magic 56 , Prayer 42 , Smithing 50 , Strength 50 , Thieving 50 , Woodcutting 50
Lunar Diplomacy Mining 60 Magic 65 , Crafting 61 , Defence 40 , Firemaking 49 , Herblore 5 , Woodcutting 55
Dragon Slayer II Mining 68 Magic 75 , Smithing 70 , Crafting 62 , Agility 60 , Thieving 60 , Construction 50 , Hitpoints 50
Song of the Elves Mining 70 Agility 70 , Construction 70 , Farming 70 , Herblore 70 , Hunter 70 , Smithing 70 , Woodcutting 70
Making Friends with My Arm Mining 72 Construction 35 , Firemaking 66 , Agility 68

Quests rewarding Mining experience[edit | edit source]

Quest Experience
reward
Mining
requirement
Other requirements
The Forsaken Tower 500 - 20% Lovakengj favour
Doric's Quest 1,300 - -
Plague City 2,425 - -
The Giant Dwarf 2,500 - Thieving 14 , Crafting 12 , Firemaking 16 , Magic 33
Heroes' Quest 2,575 Mining 50 Quest points 55 , Cooking 53 , Fishing 53 , Herblore 25
Another Slice of H.A.M. 3,000 - Attack 15 , Prayer 25
The Lost Tribe 3,000 Mining 17 Agility 13 , Thieving 13
Between a Rock... 5,000 Mining 40 Defence 30 , Smithing 50
Enakhra's Lament 7,000 Mining 45 -optional Crafting 50 , Firemaking 45 , Prayer 43 , Magic 39
The Dig Site 15,300 - Agility 10 , Herblore 10 , Thieving 25 Skills
Song of the Elves 40,000 Mining 70 Agility 70 , Construction 70 , Farming 70 , Herblore 70 , Hunter 70 , Smithing 70 , Woodcutting 70
Making Friends with My Arm 50,000 Mining 72 Construction 35 , Firemaking 66 , Agility 68
Dragon Slayer II 60,000 Mining 68 Quest points 200 , Magic 75 , Smithing 70 , Crafting 62 , Agility 60 , Thieving 60 , Construction 50 ,
Total 192,600

Skill choice[edit | edit source]

Upon completing any of the following quests, players may choose to allocate experience to Mining. These rewards usually come in the form of items, such as lamps or books, and are independent of any experience rewards directly received for completing the quest.

QuestExperience
reward
Skills availableSkill requirements
X Marks the Spot300AnyNone
Client of Kourend500 twiceAnyNone
Fairytale II - Cure a Queen2,500Any skill above 30Farming 49 , Herblore 57
A Tail of Two Cats2,500 twiceAny skill above 30None
The Great Brain Robbery5,000Any skill above 30Crafting 16 , Construction 30 , Prayer 50
King's Ransom5,000Any skill above 50Defence 65
Darkness of Hallowvale2,000 three timesAny skill above 30Construction 5 , Mining 20 , Thieving 22 , Crafting 32 , Magic 33 , Strength 40
A Taste of Hope2,500 three timesAny skill above 35Crafting 48 , Herblore 40 , Attack 40 , Agility 45 , Slayer 38
A Kingdom Divided10,000Any skill above 40Agility 54 , Thieving 52 , Woodcutting 52 , Herblore 50 , Mining 42 ,
Crafting 38 , Magic 35
Architectural Alliance
(miniquest)
10,000Any skill above 40None
In Search of Knowledge
(miniquest)
10,000Any skill above 40None
Curse of the Empty Lord
(miniquest)
10,000Any skill above 50Some players will need Prayer 31
One Small Favour10,000 twiceAny skill above 30Agility 36 , Crafting 25 , Herblore 18 , Smithing 30
Recipe for Disaster
(The final battle)
20,000Any skill above 50Quest points 175 , Cooking 70 , Agility 48 , Mining 50 , Fishing 53 ,
Thieving 53 , Herblore 25 , Magic 59 , Smithing 40 , Firemaking 50 ,
Ranged 40 , Crafting 40 , Fletching 10 , Slayer 10 , Woodcutting 36
Sins of the Father15,000 six timesAny skill above 60Woodcutting 62 , Fletching 60 , Crafting 56 , Agility 52 , Slayer 50 , Attack 50 , Magic 49
Total202,300


Changes[edit | edit source]

Date Changes
15 March 2023
(update | poll)

Most mining objects named "Rocks" has been renamed to "[ore type] rock". As a result, the "Prospect" option on all mineable rocks have been removed as it is no longer necessary.

7 December 2022
(update)

The random tick delay after mining copper, tin, coal, blurite, silver, volcanic ash, gem rocks, gold, mithril, Lovakite, adamantite, clay, salts, runite and amethyst has been removed.

5 March 2015
(update | poll)

You now have a 10% chance to mine 2 ores at once for the completion of Varrock Diaries:

6 June 2013
(update)

The mining animation has been updated to make it play an appropriate sound effect.

31 May 2013
(update | poll)

The pickaxe animation, used when players mine normal rocks, has been reverted to an older version.

22 February 2013
(update)

This content was included when the Old School RuneScape servers officially launched.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ^
  2. ^
  3. ^