deep mining ?

[Mr Blue]

we only mine the surface of planets. i really wish to have undeground mining.

no need to make undeground map, just infinite ore but slow production rates.

[Fel]

Multiple mods have experimented with that, but it's hard to keep it balanced without making it under-powered and useless.

The main reason why vanilla probably won't ever have this is because they want to give you reasons to go outside of your starting area, and fight off the indigenous life forms (bitters and spitters) to claim those resources.

https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Mylon/Prospector
This mod might be what you want, or at least fairly close, but if "all" you wanted were infinite ores, then there are quite a few more options.

[IamNic]

https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10

[dr46onfusion]

Deep mining is possible if the map generates invisible underground 'nodes' that the players has to scan for it, and is a part of the late game expansions.

Also necessary for stuff like oil tech, so instead of finding a puddle of oil you actually have to research tools to search for oil.

It would also be good if the game has tileset for 'underground' areas and can generate a 2nd 'map' using the same set of coordinates as the 1st map, except to allow players to go underground in a limited fashion (possible that alien nests could be far more dangerous and threatening than usual, due to them living underground instead of above ground?).

For instance you can still build some of the same structures in the underground section of the map world, but the sprite will change to suit it. A new rail system for minecarts might also be handy as you can't fit trains into a cavern system properly.

[Mr Blue]

Originally posted by Kai:

Deep mining is possible if the map generates invisible underground 'nodes' that the players has to scan for it, and is a part of the late game expansions.

Also necessary for stuff like oil tech, so instead of finding a puddle of oil you actually have to research tools to search for oil.

It would also be good if the game has tileset for 'underground' areas and can generate a 2nd 'map' using the same set of coordinates as the 1st map, except to allow players to go underground in a limited fashion (possible that alien nests could be far more dangerous and threatening than usual, due to them living underground instead of above ground?).

For instance you can still build some of the same structures in the underground section of the map world, but the sprite will change to suit it. A new rail system for minecarts might also be handy as you can't fit trains into a cavern system properly.

no, people mistaken what i mean here.

i mean we just have an mining rig in surface who can dig to the core of planets.

for mining some rare minerals, or infinite ores. but the price of mining rig are expensive and big.

[Slimurgical (Stormy)]

He's essentially asking for Deep Core Mines.

An idea I was about to post about. However... Deep Core Mines are far larger in size and scope than a mere Rocket launch pad. Imagine the Superbowl Stadium. More or less the smallest possible size for such a thing.

It would more or less be large enoguh square-wise to be placed at the maximum placement range in-game for the player.

That or it would be so massive that tt would only be placed via Construction Robot as such things in Science Fiction are the result of many years of work of millions of workers, at least the first ones, ofcourse after many are completed the empire that builds them usually learns tricks to minimize cost and time spent.

However, Deep Core Mines are also the perfect solution for getting rid of pollution byproducts as the intense heat as the center of any terran-class world would be enough to incinerate any trash, or even smoggy air sent down there.

In Master of Orion 2, Deep Core Mines are the ultimate solution to dealing with pollution, eliminating all of it.

but a Deep Core Mine could have multiple arrow areas for producing every ore type at a small rate that is far more powerful than doing it by hand with steel picks, but weaker than 20 drills, with more power drain.

By the time a Deep Core Mine would be built, you should already be going fully into Nuclear Power anyways what with Kovarex Enrichment and Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing.

But, again, the research required to even figure out the technology to do such a thing, it really would be a very considerable undertaking in of itself. Learning how to launch a rocket when you haven't got Explosives yet, wouldn't be a dream of the technological challenges of sustainably having a deep core mine AND making sure core temp of the planet doesn't plummet.

If they were a thing, you'd have to research the following:
1. Upgrade to construction robots to essentially become MASSIVELY resistant to high temperatures fitting of a volcano.
2. Each of the components of the Mine itself.
3. Deep Core Infrastructure, you know, so the world's forces doesn't squish the mine itself during construction, or after construction?
4. Materials to ward off heat almost perfectly, beyond that of any grade of Aluminum.
5. Filtration methods to sift materials like iron and copper, etc. from molten magma.
6. Systems to stabilize techtonic movements whilst also keeping all other planetary systems in operation.

A Deep Core Mine, in itself, would pose a bit of a threat to a planet without enough tech to support it, as alot of hte world's systems hinge upon the very last one you'd need.

It WOULD be possible to have everything in one building, but that would make it both far larger and harder to produce.

Such a thing would also not be instantly built and placed. More or less, it would take time in-game to be built, similar ot how it takes time to mine an item, as a Deep Core Mine is not simple to make in any way.

A Deep Core Mine, at the end of the day, is a luxury and a feat of engineering nad technological progress of any civilization. It marks the moment in time where Mother Nature can be fully controlled on a planetary scale.

If you had a super factory that could launch a rocket once every minute, or faster, you could then get CLOSE to the material costs of a Deep Core Mine.

Short-term, Deep Core Mines are a waste of time and effort. However, in th long-term, they're far worth their weight in any valuable materials it could gather, which would include gold.

Ofcourse a planet has a limited stock of resources, but because the Mantle is constantly moving and is massively rich of valauble minerals and metals, it would take far more time to gather it all and run out, than if you "Cracked" a planet, which, hilariously, is a massive waste of materials, since you only end up getting about... what... 25% of the materials? Rough estimate, but yeah.

TL;DR The entire library of research, including 4 levels of each of hte infinite research, would roughly be the cost of the tech needed to making a Deep Core Mine.
THEN, the Materials cost for such a thing would realistically make Rocket Silos look like Iron Sticks for costs.
AND THEN construction robots and/or players would have to consistently work on building the damn thing as it would easily take thousands of every material.

It would be beyond Assemblers to construct. You'd likely have to do something like start a "Grand Project" which would lay down a special ghost-paint thing, only right-clicking it would take a LONG time based on how much stuff you put into the construction, and you would have to either put materials for it to build itself, or do it yourself and build it for just as long.

It would be an undertaking of which no single player would be willing to deal with unless they were THAT starved of all resources.

Ofcourse it could never yield Coal, since that comes from compressed dead things, but we COULD get a special smelter that takes wood and converts it INTO Coal. Which would be ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ awesome.

Massively TL;DR Deep Core Mines would take alot in every way to both keep running, and to build, but would be extremely powerful.

We're talking science fiction on the levels of Black Hole Generators and Moon-sized starships being built as a HOBBY. It would be just as massive as a moon in reality, smaller in-game.

[dr46onfusion]

I think a Deep drilling mine would take up space as much as a rocket silo, but comes with additional 'structures' to increase it's power, thus allowing it to dig deeper and gather more resources, hence take up even more space and power.

It can output all resources, but depending on the depth of the drill, it varies based on a given range of depth that translates to what possible Ores to drill for.

A drill that is 50~100m underneath the surface will get stone, some coal, and some copper or iron ore at a rare rate. If you drill at 200m~400m, you get less stone now, some coal, and more metal ores at a slightly better rate, but your power usage most likely is 2x the base amount now.

[Mr Blue]

Originally posted by Kai:

I think a Deep drilling mine would take up space as much as a rocket silo, but comes with additional 'structures' to increase it's power, thus allowing it to dig deeper and gather more resources, hence take up even more space and power.

It can output all resources, but depending on the depth of the drill, it varies based on a given range of depth that translates to what possible Ores to drill for.

A drill that is 50~100m underneath the surface will get stone, some coal, and some copper or iron ore at a rare rate. If you drill at 200m~400m, you get less stone now, some coal, and more metal ores at a slightly better rate, but your power usage most likely is 2x the base amount now.

bigger than rocket silo.

[dr46onfusion]

Originally posted by hellatze:

Originally posted by Kai:

I think a Deep drilling mine would take up space as much as a rocket silo, but comes with additional 'structures' to increase it's power, thus allowing it to dig deeper and gather more resources, hence take up even more space and power.

It can output all resources, but depending on the depth of the drill, it varies based on a given range of depth that translates to what possible Ores to drill for.

A drill that is 50~100m underneath the surface will get stone, some coal, and some copper or iron ore at a rare rate. If you drill at 200m~400m, you get less stone now, some coal, and more metal ores at a slightly better rate, but your power usage most likely is 2x the base amount now.

bigger than rocket silo.

Here's the kicker, you have to build attachments onto the core building, meaning players have to be smart on how to manage spacing while extracting different ores out of the deep mining drill.

If the building core is a 8x8, and each upgraded module is 4x4, you have to attach it to the core to link it, and can also link modules by modules, but the efficiency drops with higher distance from the core.

Deep mining drills are incredibly resource intensive, because the deeper you go, the likelihood of your drill bit melting from the geothermal temperature.

The modules you build around a core drill, basically increases the 'power' of the drill so it can dig deeper. This means more electricity is needed, and a water source is needed to cool the drill, so you extract 'steam' from the drill bit.

[dr46onfusion]

So I'd imagine the drill core can be 9x9 in size, with 3 'resource' output nodes, and 1 water input and 1 steam output node.

You can configure what resources comes out of which node, or spot on the grid, so you can attach belts to it to draw out ores.

The modules can maybe come in multiple sizes or functions, like a Cooling module that is connected by steam, to cool it down and turn it back into water. Only when a pipe is cooler that the drill core can send more hot steam to it.

Hmm, what's interesting is that this concept of mine functions as a deep drilling mine AND a geothermal extractor.

[Mr Blue]

Originally posted by Kai:

So I'd imagine the drill core can be 9x9 in size, with 3 'resource' output nodes, and 1 water input and 1 steam output node.

You can configure what resources comes out of which node, or spot on the grid, so you can attach belts to it to draw out ores.

The modules can maybe come in multiple sizes or functions, like a Cooling module that is connected by steam, to cool it down and turn it back into water. Only when a pipe is cooler that the drill core can send more hot steam to it.

Hmm, what's interesting is that this concept of mine functions as a deep drilling mine AND a geothermal extractor.

wait 10 year lol.

man they rarelly update feature.

[Luzilyo]

yes, the deep core mining concept sounds very interesting. i think it would be cool but i really doubt it will happen due to the mentioned reasons. it would be far too expansive and complicated. the goal is to launch a rocket to get back home. a deep core mine would be much much more expensive than building and launching a rocket. so you technically complete the game, then play for a long time and then, a very long time after you have reached the goal, you can construct a core mine.

additionally, core mines are extremely sci-fi, while factorio seems to take place in a more closer future. there are suits that can protect you from damage and even help you survive a plane crash, there are automated logistics and construction drones that can deliver/construct anything, there are assemblers and chemical factories that can produce all available products completely autonomously, and so on. but i think all this could probably be possible in maybe one or two centuries. a core mine is still an extremely long way or might not even work at all in reality. so i think it wouldn't fit the game very well.

[Mr Blue]

Originally posted by Luzilyo:

additionally, core mines are extremely sci-fi, while factorio seems to take place in a more closer future.

you got lost in unknown planet, manage to launch rocket to space in few weeks.

that was SCI FI to me.