How do I set up mining on a comet? Colony and mining basics

[ErikEvenson]

Question

How do you build colonies with mines and stuff? I found a comet that has the minerals I need — how do I harvest them? Is there a specific tutorial on the subject?

Answer

Getting Minerals from a Comet

Two main options:

1. Automated Mines (easiest for comets)

• Cost 240 BP each, but require zero population — ideal for comets and asteroids [verified, ref 6.2-5]
• Same output as conventional mines (10 tons/year base, scales with tech) [verified, ref 6.2-5]
• Build them at an existing colony, load onto a freighter, and deliver to the comet
• Recommended approach for small/remote bodies

2. Orbital Mining Modules (ship-based)

• 5,000-ton ship components that mine from orbit [verified, ref 6.2-7]
• No need to land installations on the body
• Limited by body diameter (tech progression from 100 km to 500 km max) [verified, ref 6.2-8]
• Good for asteroids/comets too small or hostile for surface operations

Comet-specific considerations: Comets have highly eccentric orbits (mean eccentricity 0.80) [verified, ref 4.3-5], which causes colony cost to fluctuate as they move closer/farther from the star. Freighter logistics can be challenging since travel distance changes over time. The game's "Unload Colonists" standing orders intentionally ignore comets to prevent stranding population. 8 of 32 comets in the game database contain Sorium deposits [verified, ref 4.3-6].

Setting Up a Mining Colony (General Steps)

1. Survey the body with a geological survey ship to find mineral deposits
2. Check accessibility — this is a direct multiplier on mine output. A 0.9 accessibility deposit produces 9x more than a 0.1 deposit
3. Transport automated mines via freighter (or conventional mines + population + infrastructure for larger worlds)
4. Set up a freighter route with standing orders to haul minerals back, OR install a mass driver at both ends to launch minerals automatically (5,000 tons/year per driver)

Mining Output Formula

Annual Output = Base Rate (10 tons) × Accessibility × Number of Mines × Tech Modifier × (1 + Governor Bonus)

Example: 20 mines on a 0.9 accessibility deposit = 20 × 10 × 0.9 = 180 tons/year at base tech.

Key Installations

Installation	Build Cost	Workers	Notes
Conventional Mine	120 BP	50,000	Requires population and infrastructure
Automated Mine	240 BP	0	No population needed — ideal for remote bodies
Mass Driver	300 BP	—	Launches 5,000 tons/year; need one at each end

Accessibility Mechanics

• Range: 0.1 to 1.0, directly multiplies mine output [verified, ref 6.1-16]
• Initial accessibility is fixed (cannot be improved with tech)
• After 50% of a deposit is mined, accessibility begins declining toward a minimum of 0.1 [verified, ref 6.2-10]
• Strategic tip: A 50,000-ton deposit at 1.0 accessibility is often more valuable than a 500,000-ton deposit at 0.1 (time value of minerals)

Tutorials in the Manual

Two worked examples walk through this step by step:

• Mining Network Setup — site evaluation, automated mine deployment, freighter design, standing orders, mass driver vs freighter comparison
• Colony Establishment — full 20-year colony development scenario on Ganymede (CC 9.14), with infrastructure and mining calculations phase by phase

Verification Status

Verified (AuroraDB.db v2.7.1):

• Mine base output (10 tons/year) and full tech progression (refs 6.2-1, 6.2-2)
• Automated mine specs: 240 BP, no population, same output as conventional (ref 6.2-5)
• Orbital mining module size and cost (ref 6.2-7)
• Mass driver cost: 300 BP (100 Duranium + 100 Neutronium + 100 Boronide) (ref 5.4-20)
• Comet eccentricity range and Sorium deposit frequency (refs 4.3-5, 4.3-6)
• Accessibility depletion after 50% extraction (ref 6.2-10)
• Infrastructure formula: Population (millions) × Colony Cost × 100 (ref 5.1-3)

Unverified:

• Automated mines being unaffected by colony cost — widely reported but not DB-verified
• Exact mass driver packet transit times (unverified — forum-sourced)
• Colony cost mining divisor mechanic (requires live testing — Verify: Section 5.1 unverified claims (11 items) #733)

Manual Sections

• Section 4.3 Asteroids and Comets — comet properties and mining considerations
• Section 5.1 Establishing Colonies — colony ships, colony cost, infrastructure
• Section 5.4 Infrastructure — installation details and build costs
• Section 6.1 Minerals — mineral types, accessibility, survey window
• Section 6.2 Mining — all mine types, output formulas, mass drivers