Best way to produce iron and coal MM8?

[Sanfranman491]

There's soooo many choices for everything so I haven't learned the best course of action for certain items. I wanted to produce iron and coal while using a flat map. So far what I discovered is, an Iron Smelter for the Iron, using iron Ore ( I have plenty) and coal. Fine. Now then ,I need to make coal to keep my Smelter running, so I found and built a Village mine. Both buildings are in RB Themed Village>Village Resource.
But I ask if this is what should be done to produce coal and iron on a flat map (no other mines would work without a small hill)? I should mention I don't care for buildings that grow the resources because it's not very authentic to me.
Also, I read somewhere that Charcoal is valuable and important. I have no idea how to produce Charcoal., and if its used for something other than the trader.

[maiden4meldin]

I prefer to use Renewable Resources. But there are some mines you can place on flat land, that can be easily removed without leaving a scar on the land.
With the Renewable Resources, they take up a smallish diameter of land, to "Grow" Rocks, Stones, Iron, Iron Ore, and Dense Trees. I tend to think of them, as a mining site, that doesn't have the animations of being dug out of the terrain.

There is another way to get minerals, and that is with the Docks sets, you can "Mine" from the docks. Which is kind of cool, but very very slow production.

As for producing Charcoal. I use the Stacks Burner, Just One SB is all you need until your people are in the 500 range. Charcoal is very very efficient to heat houses, as well as to make. But if you do not want to make Charcoal, then Firewood, is made at the Sawmill, It burns through the logs quickly so pay closer attention to the limits for fuel. You will need fuel for other types of production. I prefer to hit around 4000 Charcoal, then start adding Firewood back into the fuel mix, I use Firewood for some food recipes.

As a trading Item, Nah, skip the firewood and the charcoal, go for items like Seedlings, being built in a specific greenhouse, and you get 8 units for 1 seedling. Charcoal, uses up your logs, and workers, and only gets 3 pts, at the trading post. Not worth it at all. Because of the tremendous opportunities for food gathering. I don't go big on the Forest Nodes, on account of there are other options much better than the gathering post. I can always send my workers into the forest and pick wild foods whenever I want.

[oldtimerray]

I like the upright iron and coal mine. I also use the forge that uses iron ore from the mine with furnace fuel I make from charcoal at the fuel refinery to make iron.
To me charcoal is a must have item that can be made at a stacks burner or brick works.
much more versatile and efficient than firewood. It basically comes down to what works for you.

[Sanfranman491]

Which is the ideal mine btw? I spend some time opening and searching through all the Themes and resource options and I forget where I see things. I'm not sure where the refinery or stack burner is? I'm still learning the MM.

[oldtimerray]

look in refined resources tab the last 2 on the right end are fuel refineries. The stacks burner is on the same line.
I like the upright mine foe iron ore because I don't need a hill to mount it on. It can be found in refined resources, mining right next to the large quarry.
Keep in mind at some point you will need candles and lamp oil for your first and sec ond upgrade. Good luck.

[olympe]

For me, the best "mines" are the renewable ones. Fewer deaths, good production with no end in sight. This is for my base production - a buffer in case something else goes wrong down the line, so to speak.
The other option I use heavily is trading.