Asteroids and ore

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Main article: Mining

Asteroids are large irregular chunks of rock that can be found in many places throughout New Eden. When mined, asteroids yield ore which, when refined, produces minerals of various types that serve as the basic building blocks of almost every craftable item.

Where to find asteroids

An asteroid belt. The ship in the middle is sitting at the warp-in point.
Asteroid belt geometry

Asteroid belts

Virtually every star system in EVE (with the notable exception of Jita) has at least one asteroid belt. Most star systems have several -- up to more than a dozen in some cases. These belts are listed on the overview and the right-click menu, and always have the same geometry: a rough semicircle of asteroids, approximately 50 km in diameter. A ship warping to an asteroid belt's beacon (through the right-click menu or the overview) will warp to the center of the semicircle. Note that mining lasers have an (unboosted) range of only 10-15 km, so in order to mine asteroids a ship has to fly closer to the belt after warping in. If you want to save on travel time, you can warp to mining bookmarks instead.

A given belt will have a mixture of asteroids containing different ores. The mixture and size of the asteroids (i.e. how much ore each asteroid contains) is determined by the system's location in the EVE universe and its security status (see asteroid distribution below). Each asteroid belt contains a finite number of asteroids (which disappear once fully mined), but the asteroids respawn after downtime. The website Dotlan has maps showing the number of belts per system.

Deadspace pockets

Mineable asteroids can also spawn in deadspace pockets, such as the ones created for missions. Unlike asteroid belts, these are not organized into a set shape. Some are composed of dense clumps of asteroids, while others are scattered fields. For a list of which missions' deadspace pockets contain asteroids, see Mission Mining or EVE-survival.

Cosmic anomalies

Lastly, one of the two kinds of cosmic anomaly contains asteroids (the others contains hostile rats). The asteroids in cosmic anomalies tend to be a little larger and contain rarer ore than the normal asteroid belts in a star system. However, unlike asteroid belts, once all the asteroids in the anomaly have been mined, the anomaly disappears after broadcasting a short message in Local. As with all cosmic anomalies, new anomalies spawn semi-randomly.

Note that in many locations you will find decorative asteroids, which cannot be mined or otherwise interacted with. These will have colorful names such as "Snake-shaped Asteroid".

There are different types of asteroid cosmic anomalies, named by what kinds of ores are contained within. Each type comes in three variants (small, average, and large) - the "larger" the anomaly, the more asteroids (and hence the more ore) it contains. A "Small Kernite and Omber Deposit" therefore contains a small number of Kernite and Omber asteroids, while a "Large Bistot Deposit" contains a large number of Bistot asteroids. Ore anomalies will contain all three variants of the ores they contain.

High security space

See also: High-sec

Low security space

See also: Low-sec

Null security space

See also: Null-sec

Ore Prospecting Arrays

In player-owned sovereign nullsec, it is possible to deploy Ore Prospecting Arrays, a deployable sovereignty structure which, when deployed in a system, periodically generates asteroid clusters of various sizes at set intervals.

All sizes of asteroid clusters are capable of spawning regardless of system security status, and all clusters of a given size contain the same volume of ore, but asteroid clusters in lower security levels will spawn the more valuable ore variants with greater frequency. With the exception of Small Asteroid Clusters (which lack Mercoxit), all clusters contain varying amounts of all nullsec ore types: Arkonor, Bistot, Crokite, Dark Ochre, Gneiss, Spodumain, and Mercoxit.

Small Asteroid ClusterMedium Asteroid ClusterLarge Asteroid ClusterEnormous Asteroid ClusterColossal Asteroid Cluster

Asteroid distribution

Asteroid distribution
An asteroid belt, as seen on the overview. Note the belt's warp-in point (marked with an inverted triangle), as well as the variety of different asteroid types (all labelled according to what kind of ore they contain).
For the distribution of ice asteroids, see Ice distribution.

The EVE universe can be divided into four quarters:

  • The Amarr quarter (includes systems held by the Amarr, Ammatar, Khanid, Blood Raiders, and Sansha's Nation)
  • The Caldari quarter (includes systems held by the Caldari and Guristas)
  • The Gallente quarter (includes systems held by the Gallente and Serpentis)
  • The Minmatar quarter (includes systems held by the Minmatar and Angel Cartel)

Each of these four quarters has its own set of asteroid types. Additionally, the lower the security rating of a system, the rarer the asteroid types that can be found there. Finally, each system can also include all the asteroid types of same-quarter higher-security systems. For example, a Gallente system with a security rating of 0.7 will have asteroid belts with not only Omber asteroids, but also Veldspar, Scordite, and Plagioclase asteroids.

System
security
rating
Quarter
Amarr quarter Caldari quarter Gallente quarter Minmatar quarter
1.0 and lower Veldspar Veldspar
Scordite Scordite
Veldspar Veldspar
Scordite Scordite
Veldspar Veldspar
Scordite Scordite
Veldspar Veldspar
Scordite Scordite
0.9 and lower Pyroxeres Pyroxeres Pyroxeres Pyroxeres Plagioclase Plagioclase Plagioclase Plagioclase
0.7 and lower Kernite Kernite Plagioclase Plagioclase Omber Omber Omber Omber
0.4 and lower Jaspet Jaspet Kernite Kernite Jaspet Jaspet Kernite Kernite
0.2 and lower Hemorphite Hemorphite Hedbergite Hedbergite Hemorphite Hemorphite Hedbergite Hedbergite
0.0 and lower Spodumain Spodumain
Gneiss Gneiss
Crokite Crokite
Arkonor Arkonor
Bistot Bistot
Mercoxit Mercoxit
Dark Ochre Dark Ochre
Crokite Crokite
Spodumain Spodumain
Bistot Bistot
Mercoxit Mercoxit
Dark Ochre Dark Ochre
Crokite Crokite
Arkonor Arkonor
Bistot Bistot
Mercoxit Mercoxit
Spodumain Spodumain
Gneiss Gneiss
Arkonor Arkonor
Bistot Bistot
Mercoxit Mercoxit

In general, the rarer the ore, the higher its volume per unit (e.g. one unit of Veldspar has a volume of 0.1 m3, whereas one unit of Arkonor has a volume of 16 m3). Since mining lasers mine a given volume of ore per minute, it takes longer to mine the rarer ore types. Additionally, each ore reprocesses into a different set of minerals. For details, see Reprocessing.

Note that mining Mercoxit requires the Deep Core Mining skill as well as special mining modules (Deep Core Miners or Deep Core Strip Miners). All other ore types can be mined with all types of ore mining lasers or strip miners.

Ore variants

Each asteroid type has three further subtypes that yield more (+5% / +10% / +15%) minerals when reprocessed. Otherwise they are identical in every way to their base ore, and are found in the same regions, but in lower quantities, except for the +15% variant which is only found in moons. For instance, if an asteroid belt has Omber asteroids, it will also have some Silvery Omber asteroids and a few Golden Omber asteroids. If you get the chance, you should always mine the higher-yield variants before mining the base ore.

Base ore +5% variant +10% variant +15% variant Found in
Veldspar Veldspar Concentrated Veldspar Dense Veldspar Stable Veldspar Everywhere
Scordite Scordite Condensed Scordite Massive Scordite Glossy Scordite Everywhere
Pyroxeres Pyroxeres Solid Pyroxeres Viscous Pyroxeres Opulent Pyroxeres Amarr and Caldari 0.9 (or lower) space
Plagioclase Plagioclase Azure Plagioclase Rich Plagioclase Sparkling Plagioclase Caldari 0.7 (or lower) space
Minmatar and Gallente 0.9 (or lower) space
Omber Omber Silvery Omber Golden Omber Platinoid Omber Gallente and Minmatar 0.7 (or lower) space
Kernite Kernite Luminous Kernite Fiery Kernite Resplendant Kernite Amarr 0.7 (or lower) space
Caldari and Minmatar 0.4 (or lower) space
Jaspet Jaspet Pure Jaspet Pristine Jaspet Immaculate Jaspet Amarr and Gallente 0.4 (or lower) space
Hemorphite Hemorphite Vivid Hemorphite Radiant Hemorphite Scintillating Hemorphite Amarr and Gallente 0.2 (or lower) space
Hedbergite Hedbergite Vitric Hedbergite Glazed Hedbergite Lustrous Hedbergite Caldari and Minmatar 0.2 (or lower) space
Gneiss Gneiss Iridescent Gneiss Prismatic Gneiss Brilliant Gneiss Amarr and Minmatar 0.0 (or lower) space
Dark Ochre Dark Ochre Onyx Ochre Obsidian Ochre Jet Ochre Caldari and Gallente 0.0 (or lower) space
Spodumain Spodumain Bright Spodumain Gleaming Spodumain Dazzling Spodumain 0.0 space (or lower, except Gallente)
Crokite Crokite Sharp Crokite Crystalline Crokite Pellucid Crokite 0.0 space (or lower, except Minmatar)
Arkonor Arkonor Crimson Arkonor Prime Arkonor Flawless Arkonor 0.0 space (or lower, except Caldari)
Bistot Bistot Triclinic Bistot Monoclinic Bistot Cubic Bistot All of 0.0 (or lower) space
Mercoxit Mercoxit Magma Mercoxit Vitreous Mercoxit - All of 0.0 (or lower) space

Ore Chart

Ore Vol-
ume
Batch
size[oc 1]
Mineral from 100%-yield reprocessing Max security and quarter of EVE
where ore can be found [oc 2]
Tri Pye Mex Iso Noc Zyd Meg Mor
Veldspar 0.1 100 415 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Concentrated Veldspar (+5%) 0.1 100 436 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Dense Veldspar (+10%) 0.1 100 457 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Scordite 0.15 100 346 173 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Condensed Scordite (+5%) 0.15 100 364 182 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Massive Scordite (+10%) 0.15 100 381 190 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 (All Space)
Pyroxeres 0.3 100 351 25 50 0 5 0 0 0 0.9 (Amarr, Caldari)
Solid Pyroxeres (+5%) 0.3 100 369 26 53 0 5 0 0 0 0.9 (Amarr, Caldari)
Viscous Pyroxeres (+10%) 0.3 100 387 27 55 0 5 0 0 0 0.9 (Amarr, Caldari)
Plagioclase 0.35 100 107 213 107 0 0 0 0 0 0.9 (Gallente, Minmatar), 0.7 (Caldari)
Azure Plagioclase (+5%) 0.35 100 113 224 113 0 0 0 0 0 0.9 (Gallente, Minmatar), 0.7 (Caldari)
Rich Plagioclase (+10%) 0.35 100 118 235 118 0 0 0 0 0 0.9 (Gallente, Minmatar), 0.7 (Caldari)
Omber 0.6 100 800 100 0 85 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Gallente, Minmatar)
Silvery Omber (+5%) 0.6 100 840 105 0 90 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Gallente, Minmatar)
Golden Omber (+10%) 0.6 100 880 110 0 94 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Gallente, Minmatar)
Kernite 1.2 100 134 0 267 134 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Amarr), 0.4 (Caldari, Minmatar)
Luminous Kernite (+5%) 1.2 100 141 0 281 141 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Amarr), 0.4 (Caldari, Minmatar)
Fiery Kernite (+10%) 1.2 100 148 0 294 148 0 0 0 0 0.7 (Amarr), 0.4 (Caldari, Minmatar)
Jaspet 2 100 0 0 350 0 75 8 0 0 0.4 (Amarr, Gallente)
Pure Jaspet (+5%) 2 100 0 0 368 0 79 8 0 0 0.4 (Amarr, Gallente)
Pristine Jaspet (+10%) 2 100 0 0 385 0 83 9 0 0 0.4 (Amarr, Gallente)
Hemorphite 3 100 2200 0 0 100 120 15 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Vivid Hemorphite (+5%) 3 100 2310 0 0 105 126 16 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Radiant Hemorphite (+10%) 3 100 2420 0 0 110 132 17 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Hedbergite 3 100 0 1000 0 200 100 19 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Vitric Hedbergite (+5%) 3 100 0 1050 0 210 105 20 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Glazed Hedbergite (+10%) 3 100 0 1100 0 220 110 21 0 0 0.2 (Amarr, Gallente)
Gneiss 5 100 0 2200 2400 300 0 0 0 0 -0.4 (Amarr, Minmatar)
Iridescent Gneiss (+5%) 5 100 0 2310 2520 315 0 0 0 0 -0.4 (Amarr, Minmatar)
Prismatic Gneiss (+10%) 5 100 0 2420 2640 330 0 0 0 0 -0.4 (Amarr, Minmatar)
Dark Ochre 8 100 10000 0 0 1600 120 0 0 0 -0.2 (Caldari, Gallente)
Onyx Ochre (+5%) 8 100 10500 0 0 1680 126 0 0 0 -0.2 (Caldari, Gallente)
Obsidian Ochre (+10%) 8 100 11000 0 0 1760 132 0 0 0 -0.2 (Caldari, Gallente)
Spodumain 16 100 56000 12050 2100 450 0 0 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari)
Bright Spodumain (+5%) 16 100 58800 12653 2205 473 0 0 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari)
Gleaming Spodumain (+10%) 16 100 61600 13255 2310 495 0 0 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari)
Crokite 16 100 21000 0 0 0 760 135 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari, Gallente)
Sharp Crokite (+5%) 16 100 22050 0 0 0 798 142 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari, Gallente)
Crystalline Crokite (10%) 16 100 23100 0 0 0 836 149 0 0 -0.5 (Amarr, Caldari, Gallente)
Bistot 16 100 0 12000 0 0 0 450 100 0 -0.6 (All Space)
Triclinic Bistot (+5%) 16 100 0 12600 0 0 0 473 105 0 -0.6 (All Space)
Monoclinic Bistot (+10%) 16 100 0 13200 0 0 0 495 110 0 -0.6 (All Space)
Arkonor 16 100 22000 0 2500 0 0 0 320 0 -0.7 (All Space)
Crimson Arkonor (+5%) 16 100 23100 0 2625 0 0 0 336 0 -0.7 (All Space)
Prime Arkonor (+10%) 16 100 24200 0 2750 0 0 0 352 0 -0.7 (All Space)
Mercoxit 40 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 300 -0.8 (All Space)
Magma Mercoxit (+5%) 40 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 315 -0.8 (All Space)
Vitreous Mercoxit (+10%) 40 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 330 -0.8 (All Space)
Ore Vol-
ume
Batch
size[oc 1]
Tri Pye Mex Iso Noc Zyd Meg Mor Max security and quarter of EVE
where ore can be found [oc 2]
Mineral from 100%-yield reprocessing

  1234   Green backgrounds indicate the best value per m3 for that mineral.

  1. ^ a b Batch size is the minimal amount of ore you need for reprocessing. All values in the table (with the exception of volume) are based on one full batch.
  2. ^ a b The column contains the quarter of EVE universe and the maximum system security in which the ore can be found; the ore can be found in that solar system in that quarter with that system security or lower.

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