Mining for Beginners: How to Mine Ore and Earn ISK in EVE Online (2025)
Mining is one of the oldest and most reliable ISK-making methods in EVE Online. It’s calm, consistent, and doesn’t require high skills or expensive ships to start. Whether you want to mine casually while multitasking or scale it up into a full industrial operation, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
What Is Mining in EVE Online?
Mining is the act of harvesting ore from asteroid belts, anomalies, or moon fields. You extract raw resources using mining lasers and drones, then refine or sell them on the market.
There are three main categories:
- Ore Mining – mining rocks in high/low/nullsec belts
- Ice Mining – harvesting frozen blocks used in fuel and industry
- Gas Harvesting – collecting volatile gases in specific regions (advanced)
For beginners, ore mining in high-sec space is the safest and most accessible way to start.
Beginner Mining Ships and Tools
| Tech Level | Ship | Role |
| T1 | Venture | Starter mining frigate |
| T1 | Procurer | Tanky mining barge |
| T1 | Retriever | Large ore hold, low tank |
| T2 | Covetor / Hulk | Advanced high-yield miners |
| T2 | Porpoise | Fleet mining support |
Tip: The Venture is free with most tutorials and offers bonus yield and gas capabilities.
Where to Mine as a Beginner
Start in high-security systems (0.8–1.0) to avoid PvP. Look for asteroid belts with:
Veldspar – very common, low value
Scordite – better yield per m³
Pyroxeres – contains mexallon, useful for manufacturing
Use the Agency window or in-game map to locate active belts and mining missions.
How Much ISK Can You Make From Mining?
| Method | ISK/hour | Risk | Effort |
| Venture Mining (solo) | 1–3M ISK | Very low | Low |
| Retriever w/ boosts | 5–10M ISK | Low | Medium |
| Fleet Ice Mining | 10–20M+ ISK | Low–Med | Coordinated |
Maximizing profit depends on:
- Mining yield (ship, skills, modules)
- Ore compression/refining efficiency
- Market prices (Jita vs. local)
Tips to Maximize Mining Income
- Specialize early in mining-related skills – The sooner you focus your training, the sooner you’ll outpace casual miners in efficiency and profits.
- Invest in Mining Laser Upgrades strategically – Just one module can shift your hourly yield more than ship upgrades alone.
- Don’t underestimate mining drones – They’re not just passive tools; skilled drone control adds measurable long-term value.
- Check regional markets before refining – Not all systems have profitable compression or refining indexes — sometimes raw ore sells better elsewhere.
- Know where not to mine – Avoid common gank highways and watch zKillboard for daily destruction trends in your area.
Why Start With Mining?
- Accessible from day one – You can start making ISK without needing months of skill training or expensive implants.
- Flexible playstyle – Whether you’re watching YouTube or alt-tabbing during downtime, mining adapts to your pace.
- Safe and repeatable – Unlike PvP or exploration, you don’t need perfect reactions or expensive clones to stay profitable.
- Built-in progression path – Mining is the gateway to advanced roles: refining, producing T2 gear, managing fleets.
- Ideal for Alpha clones – You don’t need Omega to be effective. Venture + basic skills already puts you in profit territory.
Need a Boost to Mine Smarter?
Want to start with better yield and tank? CoinLooting has you covered:
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Looking for More Ways to Earn ISK?
Mining is just the beginning. Whether you’re interested in missions, abyssals, trading, or PvP — we’ve got you covered.
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