Prospect ability

[terechgracz]

I thought that integrating game mechanic with study window is fun and interesting, because studying is something unique, not present in other games.
So there is ability to prospect what's below you to place minehole, we don't have ability to prospect to get information what you can find in current level.
So my proposition is to add new item called "Prospector's Pick", which would be unlocked by skill named "Prospecting".
You could use this new pick to gather stone samples with different sizes. Theese samples would then be studied in study window, study time and weight would depend on sample size, after studying you'll get item which would had tooltip showing you which minerals/ore/stone types were found in proximity.

[Sevenless]

I kind of like knowing whether or not a cave system has been touched by players, even if it's a bit uggo in the current system. The system you're describing sounds neat, but ultimately too cumbersome for most players to bother with.