How to Sub-surface Mine

i

Draft

This article is still being written and may be incomplete.

Uncertain: Deposit timing and commodity-specific recommendations still need direct Live-game verification.

Status

Draft

Last reviewed

2026-08-24

Reviewer

Sythan

Game mode

Both

Version coverage

unspecified

Source quality

Procedure draft based on current mining workflow and EDFM mining data modules

Known uncertainty

Deposit timing and commodity-specific recommendations still need direct Live-game verification.

EDFM // Mining / Field Procedures

Extract sub-surface deposits from asteroids with displacement missiles and collect the released chunks.

Use this procedure when a ship is fitted for sub-surface mining and the commander wants to extract internal asteroid deposits with a Sub-surface Displacement Missile.

Draft: This article is still a work in progress and may be incomplete. You can help improve it by adding or expanding its content.

Required equipment

• Sub-surface Displacement Missile
• Prospector Limpet Controller
• Collector Limpet Controller
• Refinery
• Limpets and cargo space
• Optional: Detailed Surface Scanner for hotspot planning

Procedure

Procedure

1. Enter the target ring or hotspot and approach candidate asteroids safely.
2. Fire a prospector limpet at the asteroid.
3. Check the prospector result for sub-surface deposits worth extracting.
4. Target the deposit and line up the ship so the missile can be held on course.
5. Fire and hold the displacement missile while watching the extraction indicator.
6. Release during the highlighted band to break material loose.
7. Keep collector limpets active while chunks are available.
8. Manage refinery bins and ignore or vent unwanted commodities if they block useful cargo.

Completion check

A deposit is complete when the useful extraction windows have been used and no further chunks from that deposit are worth collecting. The run is complete when the planned cargo has been refined and sold or stored.

Common problems

• No sub-surface deposits: move to another asteroid; the method depends on deposits revealed by prospecting.
• Missile released outside the band: treat the attempt as practice and realign for the next deposit.
• Collectors are idle: make sure limpets are available and the controller is active.
• Refinery is blocked: use How to Resolve a Full Refinery or How to Ignore Unwanted Mining Commodities.

Related Reference Pages

Mining Sub-surface Mining Sub-surface Displacement Missile Prospector Limpet Controller Collector Limpet Controller Refinery

Related Field Procedures

• How to Sub-surface Mine (Draft) — Extract sub-surface deposits from asteroids with displacement missiles and collect the released chunks.
• How to Use a Prospector Limpet (Draft) — Launch and read prospector limpets to identify asteroid contents before committing time and collector limpets.