Mines: Does anyone know...

[Essemecks]

My friends and I started this game a couple of weeks ago, and have a small village going now. In order to advance any further, we need access to metal. Trading is an option, but it's not my first choice. I've gone prospecting hours in both directions out to the edges of the map, looking for a mine that we can relocate to. Is it reasonable to assume that every mine currently in the game has been claimed and that there is nothing left to prospect, or do you guys think that there's actually a decent possibility of discovering a usable mine?

[Ciorba]

You should assume every aboveground mine has been found and claimed. Go search deep inside remote caves and maybe...

What you could reasonably expect to find is remote mines that have been built but then abandonned, because they were discovered by a lone player who quit, and the mines remained forgotten since you can't detect them anymore through prospecting. However this means you'll have to comb the map and visually find them, and if your region is heavily populated you're just wasting your time. Also the mines will probably be "worthless" tin or copper, a valuable mine isn't forgotten that easily...

[TeckXKnight]

Also the mines will probably be "worthless" tin or copper, a valuable mine isn't forgotten that easily...

Iron mines get abandoned a lot too, not everyone who finds a mine decides to stick around in the game. Lots of abandoned cave mines too. Silver and Gold are just plain rare so finding an abandoned one is tough enough.

[Essemecks]

That's more or less what I was afraid of. Leads me to question the game design surrounding prospecting, but that's neither here nor there. I suppose I'll head back toward the edge of the map and begin a more thorough search for an abandoned or cave mine, probably while mapping out the surrounding regions to at least gain some LP and get a sense of the land.

[toshirohayate]

Yeah.. Getting a mine this late in the world is a challenge. You'll either need to be lucky and find an abandoned one, or find one in a cave. Or last but not least, take one by force. But good luck.

I would consider trading. It's alot easier.

[AnnaC]

I still think Rustroot extract should detect minerals even if a mine has been built on the node.

Anyway, you can find abandoned/forgotten mines by mapping (using Cartography not auto-mapping since Cartography you have to physically be in more locations). I've found one confirmed mine (abandoned surface mine), and 2 other possibles (2 caves with fortifications around the outside -- that screams mine, or hearth vault). Of course this method takes a lot of exploring.

[Sleep]

I have found alot of mines near the upper edges
most people dont live there so its a quiet place