Surface Mining
EDFM // Mining
Upcoming planetary resource-extraction activity introduced with the Rhino SRV.
Surface Mining is an announced planetary resource-extraction activity for Elite Dangerous associated with the Rhino Surface Recon Vehicle. Frontier describes it as a new way to acquire raw materials around geological sites on planetary surfaces and to extract more material from a planetary surface.[1][2]
Overview
Surface Mining expands SRV gameplay into a mining-focused ground loop. Frontier has described the Rhino as the vehicle built for this role, combining a larger cargo hold, built-in refinery, new scanning and extraction tools, and the torque needed to handle steeper inclines while carrying additional weight.[2]
The detailed extraction process was not fully documented in Frontier's August developer log. That article explicitly left the act of collecting from deposits for later hands-on coverage, so EDFM should not add unverified extraction controls, yields, rates, or profitability claims until release or a suitable official source confirms them.[2]
Locating deposits
Frontier has announced that the Rhino has a built-in scanner that detects planetary mining deposits. The scanner marks mineral-rich patches on the planetary surface and on sensors so the crew can position the vehicle for extraction.[2]
Resource depletion
Frontier has stated that locations and quantities of materials are generated across each planetary surface, and that collected deposits regenerate at a very slow rate. As a result, a single resource-rich location is not expected to regularly deliver a high output after it has been mined.[2]
Related equipment
- Rhino — announced large SRV built for Surface Mining.
- Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar — required to deploy the Rhino from compatible ships.
- Planetary Mineral Scanner — Rhino equipment used to detect and mark planetary mining deposits.
See also
References
- ↑ Beneath the Surface - Your First Look at the Rhino, Frontier Developments, 6 August 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Elite Dangerous: August Dev Log 2026, Frontier Developments, 27 August 2026.